The Mississinewa Indians will head out to challenge the Northwestern Tigers at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Mississinewa barely beat Southwood the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Indians were the clear victors by a 13-1 margin over the Knights on Friday. The Indians haven't had any issues with the Knights recently, as the game was their third consecutive win against them.
Mississinewa got a great performance from Gavin Baumgartner as he tossed five innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits. Baumgartner has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks any time he's pitched this season.
Lio Matamoros
| 04/18/25 vs Southwood | 3 |
| 04/14/25 vs Southern Wells | 2 |
| 05/13/24 vs Oak Hill | 2 |
| 05/06/24 vs Marion | 2 |
| 05/04/24 vs Northfield | 2 |
On the hitting side, Lio Matamoros and Kellen Rock did most of the damage at the plate: Matamoros went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs, one stolen base, and one double, while Rock went 1-for-2 with four stolen bases, two runs, and two RBI. Those three runs gave Matamoros a new career-high. Bryson Vasquez was another key player, going 1-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Mississinewa was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .381. That's the best batting average they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, Northwestern waltzed into their game on Thursday with three straight wins... but they left with four. Everything went their way against the Golden Eagles as they made off with a 14-2 victory. Considering the Tigers have won three matchups by more than five runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.
Hayden Cook was incredible, getting on base in four of his five plate appearances with one home run, three runs, and two RBI. That home run marked the first that he has launched this season. Another player making a difference was Michael Arrick, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, and one double.
Mississinewa now has a winning record of 4-3. As for Northwestern, their record now sits at 7-1.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Saturday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Mississinewa has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.1 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Northwestern struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 8.6 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Mississinewa suffered a grim 10-2 defeat to Northwestern in their previous matchup back in April of 2023. Can the Indians avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
