Mitchell is 1-6 against McDowell since March of 2019 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Wednesday. The Mountaineers will look to defend their home field against the Titans at 5:00 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
On Tuesday, Mitchell made easy work of Avery County and carried off a 15-4 victory. The result was nothing new for the Mountaineers, who have now won seven contests by six runs or more so far this season.
Hudson Buchanan tossed a big game, tossing five innings while giving up just one earned (and three unearned) runs off five hits.
At the plate, AJ Mackey was a standout: he fired off two home runs and three RBI while going 2-for-4. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in March. Kaj Pitman was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and four RBI.
Mitchell always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .595. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, McDowell was not able to break out of their rough patch on Tuesday as the team picked up their fifth straight defeat. They fell 14-10 to R-S Central.
Jacob Davis made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-5 with three RBI and two doubles. McDowell is 2-1 when Davis posts three or more RBI, but 6-12 otherwise.
Mitchell is on a roll lately: they've won three of their last four matchups. That's provided a massive bump to their 12-10 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.8 runs over those games. As for McDowell, their loss dropped their record down to 8-13.
Wednesday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Mitchell has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .434. However, it's not like McDowell struggles in that department as they've averaged .434. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Mitchell was able to grind out a solid victory over McDowell when the teams last played back in March, winning 10-6. Do the Mountaineers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Titans turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
