Ithaca hasn't had much luck against Breckenridge recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Yellowjackets will challenge the Huskies at 4:00 p.m.
On Tuesday, Ithaca didn't have quite enough to beat Michigan Lutheran Seminary and fell 8-6.
Ithaca saw eight different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Wylie Martyn, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with one stolen base and one run. Another was Brady Paradise, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with one RBI.
Meanwhile, Breckenridge entered their tilt with Montabella on Tuesday with seven consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with eight. They were the clear victors by a 10-1 margin over the Mustangs. While the Huskies didn't have the best season last year (they finished 5-18-2), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Blaze Snyder and Noah Barr did most of the damage at the plate: Snyder went 2-for-3 with three RBI, one run, and one double, while Barr got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two runs, two RBI, and one double. Those three RBI gave Snyder a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Dylan Davenport, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two runs.
Breckenridge always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .529. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Montabella only posted an OBP of .208.
Breckenridge's win bumped their record up to 13-2. As for Ithaca, their defeat dropped their record down to 10-5.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Ithaca has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.7 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Breckenridge struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.9 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Ithaca might still be hurting after the 13-6 loss they got from Breckenridge in their previous meeting back in May of 2018. Can the Yellowjackets avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.