The Oklahoma Union Cougars will head out on the road to square off against the Rejoice Christian Eagles at 5:00 p.m. on Monday.
Oklahoma Union blew Kiefer out of the water the last time the pair played, but on Thursday Kiefer got their revenge. The Cougars fell just short of the Trojans by a score of 8-6. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss the Cougars have suffered since March 30, 2024.
Baylor Murray made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-4 with one home run, two RBI, and one double. That home run was his first of the season. Tanner Dickson was another key player, going 1-for-4 with one home run and two RBI.
Meanwhile, Rejoice Christian hadn't done well against Cascia Hall recently (they were 0-9 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Saturday. The Eagles blew past the Commandos 13-2.
Micah Walker spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered two runs (both of which were unearned) on four hits and racked up seven Ks. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in four consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Maverick Guinn was incredible, getting on base in all five of his plate appearances with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base. What's more, he posted three hits, the most he's had since back in March. Another player making a difference was Ethan Lawson, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 2-for-3.
Rejoice Christian kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in three consecutive matches.
Oklahoma Union has traveled a rocky road recently, having lost three of their last four games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 11-5 record this season. Even worse, they were so close so many times: the defeats came by an average of only 1.33 runs. As for Rejoice Christian, their record now sits at 10-14.
Monday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Oklahoma Union has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .482. However, it's not like Rejoice Christian struggles in that department as they've averaged .467. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Oklahoma Union took their win against Rejoice Christian in their previous meeting back in March by a conclusive 10-1 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Cougars since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
