The Bearden Bears are taking a road trip to square off against the Hampton Bulldogs at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Bearden is coming into the contest on a four-game losing streak.
Bearden lost 19-1 to Ouachita on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Hampton had to endure a seven-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Blevins 10-9. The high-scoring performance was a welcome turnaround for the Bulldogs' hitters, who had struggled in the games prior.
Kypton Rowland was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he struck out eight batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits. He also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Hampton is 2-1 when he allows at most one earned run, but 0-7 otherwise. Rowland was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs.
In other batting news, Jayden Thomas was a standout: he went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and one triple. That triple marked the first that he has hit this season. Another player making a difference was Caleb Evans, who went 1-for-2 with three stolen bases, two RBI, and one run.
Hampton's record now sits at 2-8. As for Bearden, their defeat dropped their record down to 5-7.
Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Bearden has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .497. However, it's not like Hampton struggles in that department as they've averaged .452. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Bearden got the 'W' in their previous matchup back in March of 2025 against Hampton by a conclusive 11-1 score. Will the Bears repeat their success, or do the Bulldogs have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
