The Raymond Central Mustangs will square off against the Auburn Bulldogs at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Raymond Central has given up an average of 9.5 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Raymond Central is headed into Monday's game looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Thursday. They came up short against Louisville, falling 16-2.
Dawson Potter made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and scored a run while going 2-for-2. Another player making a difference was Mackson Smith, who scored a run and stole three bases.
Meanwhile, Auburn was able to grind out a solid victory over Plattsmouth on Thursday, taking the game 8-3.
Mason Schultz spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered just two earned (and one unearned) runs on four hits and racked up six Ks. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Auburn's win was truly a team effort as six different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Christian Gage, who scored a run while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances. What's more, Gage posted two RBI, the most he's had since back in April of 2024. Aydan Smith was another, scoring two runs while going 1-for-2.
Auburn's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 4-5. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.3 runs on average over those games. As for Raymond Central, their loss dropped their record down to 1-5.
Raymond Central's speedy runners might be the difference in Monday's matchup. The Mustangs have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5.2 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Auburn, though, as they've been averaging only 1.3 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Raymond Central continue to outrun the ball?
Raymond Central beat Auburn 6-1 when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Do the Mustangs have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Bulldogs turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
