Rams
| 05/09/26 vs McClave | 6 |
| 05/09/26 vs Stratton | 15 |
| 05/02/26 vs Merino | 2 |
| 04/29/26 vs Caliche | 10 |
| 04/27/26 vs Burlington | 13 |
| + 16 more games |
Akron will face off against Merino at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Akron is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.9 runs per game this season.
Akron is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Saturday. They came out on top against McClave by a score of 6-3. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Rams.
Jax Kusel and Mason Porteus were major factors no matter where they played. Throwing, Kusel pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Meanwhile, Porteus 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 a single earned run in five consecutive appearances. At the plate, Kusel went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI, while Porteus went 2-for-3 with one triple, one run, and one double. That's the most hits Porteus has posted since back in April.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Jakzon Livesay, who went 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Merino posted their closest win since April 14th on Saturday. They skirted past Haxtun 18-16. The game was the first time the Rams have beaten the Ftng Bulldogs on their field since May 3, 2024.
Zachary Mackintosh and Zavier Trenkle did most of the damage at the plate: Mackintosh went 1-for-7 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs, while Trenkle went 3-for-5 with one home run, four runs, and four RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Isaac Poe, who got on base in five of his six plate appearances with three runs and one RBI.
Merino kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Merino's victory bumped their record up to 15-8. As for Akron, their win bumped their record up to 15-6.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Akron has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .459. However, it's not like Merino struggles in that department as they've averaged .432. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Akron might still be hurting after the 13-2 loss they got from Merino in their previous meeting last Saturday. Can Akron avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
