The Dublin Gaels will square off against the Livermore Cowboys at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Dublin 1.4, Livermore 3.1) so any runs scored will be well earned.
While Dublin's victory against Monte Vista wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. Dublin skirted past Monte Vista 4-2. The win continues a trend for the Gaels in their matchups with the Mustangs: they've now won four in a row.
Andrew Zorinich looked comfortable as he pitched four innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off four hits. He has been consistent : he hasn't given up more than one earned run any time he's pitched this season.
On the hitting side, Dublin's victory was truly a team effort as five different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Brandt Nunemacher, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI and one double. That's the most RBI Nunemacher has posted since March 1st.
Meanwhile, Livermore entered their tilt with Dougherty Valley on Friday with three consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with four. Their pitchers stepped up to hand the Wildcats a 6-0 shutout.
Ryker Bortoli tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out seven over five innings pitched.
At the plate, Tanner Bingham and Elijah Demiris did most of the damage at the plate: Bingham went 1-for-3 with one triple, two RBI, and one run, while Demiris scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-2. That triple marked the first that Bingham hit this season.
Livermore was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .400. They are a perfect 5-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Livermore's win bumped their record up to 8-4. As for Dublin, their victory bumped their record up to 11-2.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Tuesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Dublin has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.5 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Livermore struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7.9 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Dublin skirted past Livermore 4-2 in their previous matchup on March 6th. Will Dublin repeat their success, or does Livermore has a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
