The Southern Nash Firebirds will head out to square off against the Cleveland Rams at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Southern Nash will be looking to extend their current three-game winning streak.
Southern Nash will bounce into Saturday's game after beating Northern Nash, who they had gone 2-7 against in their nine prior meetings. Southern Nash came out on top against Northern Nash by a score of 6-2 on Wednesday. That four run margin sets a new team best for the Firebirds this season.
Isaiah Battle
| 03/06/25 vs Roanoke Rapids | 6 |
| 03/13/25 @ Bunn | 4 |
| 03/18/25 @ Northern Nash | 1 |
| 02/28/25 @ Fike | 1 |
| 02/26/25 vs East Wake | 1 |
Isaiah Battle made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit (and not a single walk). He also tossed no walks, which is notable because Southern Nash is 3-1 when he allows at most one walk, but 2-4 otherwise. Battle was also big at the plate, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 1-for-2. He is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last four games he's played.
Battle wasn't the only one making solid contact as seven players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Caiden Peeler, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-2. Maddox Deans also deserves some recognition as he snagged his first stolen base of the season.
Southern Nash was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .400. The last time their batting average was this high was back in April of 2024.
For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when Cleveland and Fuquay - Varina meet (four straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Friday. Cleveland came out on top in a nail-biter against Fuquay - Varina, sneaking past 6-4. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Rams have posted against the Bengals since April 29, 2022.
Like Southern Nash, Cleveland also got a great game from a two-way player: Caleb Lynn. He pitched five innings while giving up just two earned runs off six hits. Lynn was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with one home run and three runs.
In other pitching news, Mason Rodgers looked comfortable as he pitched two innings while giving up just two earned runs off one hit.
Cleveland's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 7-3. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.3 runs over those games. As for Southern Nash, the victory got them back to even at 5-5.
Southern Nash came up short against Cleveland when the teams last played back in March of 2024, falling 9-4. Can Southern Nash avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
