The Buckeye Bucks will face off against the Bay Rockets at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The two teams are strolling into their contests after big wins in their previous games.
Buckeye will roll into the match after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up two runs on Saturday, then bounced right back against North Olmsted on Monday. The Bucks blew past the Eagles 11-1. Considering the Bucks have won five games by more than eight runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.
Kwynn Czerwony made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching 3.1 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one triple, two RBI, and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kelsey Morano, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 2-for-3. What's more, she posted two RBI, the most she's had since back in April of 2024. Casandra Minarchick was another key player, going 1-for-4 with three RBI, one stolen base, and one double.
Buckeye kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as North Olmsted only managed one hit.
Meanwhile, Bay got their first taste of in-conference action on Monday and they started things off strong. Everything went their way against Valley Forge as they made off with a 20-7 win. Considering the Rockets' hitters had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.
Bay got a massive performance out of Julia Mavis, who scored four runs while going 3-for-5. Mavis also hit two doubles, marking her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Caitie Petersen, who went 3-for-5 with four RBI, two doubles, and one run.
Buckeye's victory was their fifth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 7-3. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.6 runs over those games. As for Bay, their victory bumped their record up to 2-3.
Tuesday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Buckeye hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .347. However, it's not like Bay struggles in that department as they've averaged .333. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Buckeye beat Bay 6-2 in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Do the Bucks have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Rockets turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
