vs
| 05/05/23 - Away | 2-4 L |
| 05/07/21 - Away | 13-0 W |
| 05/03/19 - Away | 5-3 W |
| 05/05/18 - Home | 6-2 W |
| 05/05/18 - Home | 5-7 L |
| + 5 more games |
Carroll is 8-2 against Tri-County since May of 2015 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Cougars will face off against the Cavaliers at 6:00 p.m.
Things were looking good for Carroll after they put the first run on the board on Thursday, but unfortunately for them things went downhill from there. They fell just short of Rossville by a score of 5-4. The home team had taken home the W every time these teams have met since April 16, 2022, but that streak is no more.
Xavier Williams spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered three earned (and two unearned) runs on four hits and racked up seven Ks.
On the hitting side, Owen Zinn made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, one run, and one double. Coy Lytle was another key player, going 1-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
Meanwhile, Tri-County put their dominant pitcher on display in the team's fourth consecutive shutout on Thursday. They never let South Newton get on the board and left with a 3-0 victory.
Ian Houser made a big impact no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out ten over seven innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in May of 2024.
Houser wasn't the only one making solid contact as three players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Grayson Schneider, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base and one double.
Tri-County's win was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 9-2. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.8 runs on average over those games. As for Carroll, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-13.
Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Carroll has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .434. However, it's not like Tri-County struggles in that department as they've averaged .433. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Carroll couldn't quite finish off Tri-County in their previous matchup back in May of 2023 and fell 4-2. Can the Cougars avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
