The Rutherford Bulldogs will face off against the North Arlington Vikings at 4:00 p.m. on Monday. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.
On Saturday, Rutherford needed a bit of extra time to put away Paramus. They came out on top in a nail-biter against the Spartans, sneaking past 2-1. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Bulldogs have posted since April 10, 2024.
Chris Gioia made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out nine over four innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two hits in five consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two doubles, one run, and one RBI. Those two doubles gave him a new career-high.
Gioia wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Andrew Erickson, who went 1-for-4 with one stolen base and one RBI.
Meanwhile, North Arlington had just enough and edged out Park Ridge 2-1 on Saturday. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Vikings.
Vincent Hinojosa spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on five hits.
Rutherford has been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five matches. That's provided a nice bump to their 7-2 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.8 runs over those games. As for North Arlington, their victory bumped their record up to 4-7.
Monday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Rutherford has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .433. However, it's not like North Arlington struggles in that department as they've averaged .444. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Rutherford's way against North Arlington in their previous matchup back in May of 2024, as Rutherford made off with a 13-3 win. Do the Bulldogs have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Vikings turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
