The Fernley Vaqueros will take on the Elko Indians at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday. Fernley is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.9 runs per game this season.
Fernley's pitching crew heads into the contest hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Saturday. They came out on top against Dayton by a score of 5-0. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Vaqueros.
Vance Swindlehurst
| 05/02/26 vs Dayton | 8 |
| 04/17/26 vs Spring Creek | 5 |
| 04/10/26 @ Sparks | 5 |
| 02/27/26 vs Parker | 5 |
| 04/25/26 @ Elko | 3 |
Vance Swindlehurst made a splash no matter where he played. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out eight over seven innings pitched. Those eight strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs and one double.
In other batting news, Riley McCullar was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base. He is becoming a predictor of Fernley's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is 14-2 (and 7-9 when he doesn't).
Elko came out on top against Lowry on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive six-run fifth inning. The Indians didn't even let the Buckaroos on the board, marking the Indians' second-straight 10-0 shutout. The Indians might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 19 matchups by six runs or more this season.
Like Fernley, Elko also got a great game from a two-way player: Adam Roumanos. He didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out 11 over six innings pitched. Roumanos has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up a single earned run in four consecutive appearances. He was also stellar in the batter's box, going 1-for-2 with one home run and three RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Coy Jones, who went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases, one run, and one RBI. He is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games he's played. Ryder Miller was another key player, getting on base in two of his three plate appearances with two stolen bases and two runs.
Elko always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .594. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Lowry only posted an OBP of .095.
Fernley's record is now 21-11. As for Elko, their record now sits at 25-6.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Thursday as neither team is afraid to steal. Fernley has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.7 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Elko struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.2 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Fernley might still be hurting after the 8-1 loss they got from Elko when the teams last played last Saturday. Can the Vaqueros avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
