The Herscher Tigers will face off against the Iroquois West Raiders at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Herscher will be looking to extend their current six-game winning streak.
It was a proper cat-fight when Herscher took on Lisle on Wednesday. The Tigers put the hurt on the Lions with a sharp 17-1 victory. Considering the Tigers have won seven matches by more than six runs this season, Wednesday's blowout was nothing new.
Alec Nicholos looked comfortable as he tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Nash Brubaker was a standout: he scored three runs while going 1-for-2. He also hit a double, marking his first of the season. Cam Baker was another key player, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 1-for-3.
Meanwhile, Iroquois West entered their contest against Prairie Central on Tuesday without any home losses, but there's a first time for everything. The Raiders came up short against the Hawks, falling 14-3.
Iroquois West saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Julian Melgoza, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and three RBI.
Herscher pushed their record up to 9-1 with the win, which was their seventh straight on the road dating back to last season. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.9 runs over those games. As for Iroquois West, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-3.
Thursday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Herscher has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .483. However, it's not like Iroquois West struggles in that department as they've averaged .437. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Herscher took their win against Iroquois West in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 15-0 score. Will the Tigers repeat their success, or do the Raiders have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
