The Indianapolis Scecina Memorial Crusaders will head out on the road to challenge the Monrovia Bulldogs at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Indianapolis Scecina Memorial has given up an average of 6.8 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Indianapolis Scecina Memorial is headed into the contest having just suffered their biggest loss since April 21st on Thursday. They came up short against Eastern Hancock, falling 11-3. The Crusaders have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Indianapolis Scecina Memorial saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Dom McKiernan, who went 1-for-3 with one run and one double.
The home team had come away the winner the last five times Monrovia and Indianapolis Scecina Memorial had met, but sadly for the fans who attended this one that wasn't the case. The Bulldogs' pitcher stepped up to hand the Crusaders a 4-0 shutout on Tuesday.
Brendon Stwalley made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out 12 over six innings pitched. That's the most strikeouts he has posted over his last four games. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI. Monrovia is 4-1 when Stwalley posts two or more runs, but 5-8 otherwise.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Grant Kluemper, who went 2-for-4 with one triple, two RBI, and one run. Eli Hampton was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Monrovia was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .406. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .350 or higher in three consecutive matchups.
Indianapolis Scecina Memorial's defeat dropped their record down to 7-13. As for Monrovia, their victory ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 9-9.
Indianapolis Scecina Memorial couldn't quite get it done against Monrovia when the teams last played on Tuesday as they fell 4-0. Can the Crusaders avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
