The Manitowoc Lincoln Ships will head out to challenge the Pulaski Red Raiders at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Manitowoc Lincoln will come into the match with an undefeated record on the line.
Manitowoc Lincoln had to skate by with only a one-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 13-run drubbing they dealt Ashwaubenon on Tuesday. The Ships blew past the Jaguars 13-0.
Brayden Steinbecker made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out six over five innings pitched. Steinbecker was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and two RBI.
In other batting news, Vance Schroeder was incredible, firing off two home runs and four RBI while going 2-for-4. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in runs (two). Benson Dickrell was another key player, scoring three runs while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances.
Manitowoc Lincoln always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .567. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Ashwaubenon only posted an OBP of .176.
Meanwhile, Pulaski scored first but ultimately less than De Pere in their game on Tuesday. They fell just short of the Redbirds by a score of 6-5.
Pulaski saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Michael Molthen, who scored a run while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances. Bryce Wotruba also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Manitowoc Lincoln's win was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 5-0. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.5 runs over those games. As for Pulaski, their loss dropped their record down to 5-2.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Manitowoc Lincoln has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .458. However, it's not like Pulaski struggles in that department as they've averaged .484. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Manitowoc Lincoln's way against Pulaski in their previous matchup back in May of 2024, as Manitowoc Lincoln made off with an 8-1 win. Do the Ships have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Red Raiders turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
