The Nezperce Nighthawks will be playing in front of their home fans against the Kendrick Tigers at 11:00 a.m. in Saturday's first game. Nezperce is strutting in with some hitting muscle, as they've averaged 6.5 runs per game this season.
Nezperce was not able to break out of their rough patch back in March as the team picked up their third straight loss. They suffered a tough 19-3 defeat at the hands of Genesee.
Matthew Warren made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-2 with two stolen bases and an RBI. Warren is crushing it when it comes to stolen bases: he's stolen at least two every time he's taken the field this season.
Meanwhile, Kendrick scored the most runs they've had all season to find success on Thursday. Everything went their way against Genesee as Kendrick made off with a 17-1 win. Considering Kendrick has won three games by more than nine runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.
Xaiver Carpenter made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He struck out 11 batters over four innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits (and only one walk). Carpenter was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 2-for-2.
In other batting news, Kendrick let Nate Kimberling and Hunter Taylor loose on the outfield. Kimberling went 4-for-4 with three stolen bases, five RBI, and two runs, while Taylor scored four runs and stole four bases while getting on base in all five of his plate appearances. Another player making a difference was Tucker Ashmead, who went 1-for-4 with two runs, a triple, and a stolen base.
Nezperce's loss dropped their record down to 1-3. As for Kendrick, they are on a roll lately: they've won four of their last five matchups, which provided a nice bump to their 5-4 record this season.
Saturday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Nezperce has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .506. However, it's not like Kendrick struggles in that department as they've averaged .500. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Nezperce suffered a grim 16-1 defeat to Kendrick when the teams last played back in April of 2022. Will Nezperce have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
