The Mercyhurst Prep Lakers will face off against the Freedom Christian Academy Patriots at 11:30 a.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Freedom Christian Academy will square off against a team with plenty of momentum: Mercyhurst Prep extended their winning streak to 11 on Wednesday. Everything went the Lakers' way against Middle Township as they made off with a 13-3 win.
Mercyhurst Prep got a great performance from Brady Rice as he struck out eight batters over five innings while giving up three earned runs off only two hits. Rice has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two hits in five consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Zack Kruszewski was a standout: he went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. Josh Majczyk was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and two RBI.
Mercyhurst Prep always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .625. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Middle Township only posted an OBP of .333.
Freedom Christian Academy never got on the board in their matchup on Tuesday, but that sure wasn't the case in their game against Bishop Ireton on Wednesday. They put the hurt on the Cardinals with a sharp 16-3 victory. Considering the Patriots' hitters had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.
The team relied heavily on Graysen Stafford, who fired off two home runs, seven RBI, and four runs while going 4-for-4. Those four runs gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Eli Corney, who got on base in all four of his plate appearances with three stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI.
Freedom Christian Academy's win bumped their record up to 17-5. As for Mercyhurst Prep, their victory bumped their record up to 11-0.
Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Mercyhurst Prep has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .482. However, it's not like Freedom Christian Academy struggles in that department as they've averaged .470. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
