Rams
| 03/21/25 @ Fuquay - Varina | 6 |
| 03/18/25 vs Fuquay - Varina | 2 |
| 03/14/25 vs Southeast Raleigh | 15 |
| 03/12/25 vs Seaforth | 11 |
| 03/11/25 @ Southeast Raleigh | 21 |
| + 5 more games |
The Cleveland Rams will challenge the Southern Nash Firebirds at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Cleveland is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.7 runs per game this season.
Cleveland took a seven-run defeat the last time they faced off against Fuquay - Varina, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. Cleveland had just enough and edged out Fuquay - Varina 6-4. Surprisingly, this marked the fifth straight game that the away team has come away the victor.
Caleb Lynn was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he tossed five innings while giving up just two earned runs off six hits. Lynn was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with one home run and three runs. That home run was his first of the season.
In other pitching news, Mason Rodgers looked comfortable as he pitched two innings while giving up just two earned runs off one hit. He has been consistent : he hasn't given up more than two hits in seven consecutive appearances.
Lynn wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Aubrey Stanley, who scored a run while going 1-for-2. Will Hicks was another, scoring a run while going 3-for-3.
Meanwhile, Southern Nash had already won two in a row and they went ahead and made it three on Wednesday. They walked away with a 6-2 victory over the Knights. That looming 6-2 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Firebirds yet this season.
Like Cleveland, Southern Nash also got a great game from a two-way player: Isaiah Battle. He struck out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit (and not a single walk). Battle also tossed no walks, which is notable because Southern Nash is 3-1 when he allows at most one walk, but 2-4 otherwise. Battle was also big at the plate, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 1-for-2.
Southern Nash was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .400. The last time their batting average was this high was back in April of 2024.
Cleveland is on a roll lately: they've won six of their last seven matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 7-3 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.0 runs on average over those games. The victory got Southern Nash back to even at 5-5.
Southern Nash's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Cleveland has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .468. It's a different story for Southern Nash, though, as they've only averaged .358. Will they be able to contain Cleveland's hitters?
Cleveland beat Southern Nash 9-4 when the teams last played back in March of 2024. Will Cleveland repeat their success, or does Southern Nash has a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
