Akron and Merino are an even 5-5 against one another since April of 2022, but likely not for long. Akron will look to defend their home field on Wednesday against Merino at 3:00 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Akron came out on top against Caliche on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive six-run fifth inning. The Rams put the hurt on the Buffaloes with a sharp 11-1 victory. The Rams might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five contests by nine runs or more this season.
Mason Porteus
| 04/10/26 vs Caliche | 2 |
| 04/09/26 @ Wiggins | 1 |
| 03/24/26 vs Sedgwick County | 1 |
| 03/25/25 @ Sedgwick County | 1 |
Mason Porteus made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he tossed five innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits. He has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances. He was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two triples, two runs, and one RBI. Those two triples gave him a new career-high.
In other batting news, Akron got a massive performance out of Jax Kusel, who went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and one triple. Another player making a difference was Clay Axtell, who went 1-for-3 with one home run, two stolen bases, and two RBI.
Akron was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .375. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .333 or higher in three consecutive games.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Merino, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Saturday. They narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past Highland 10-9. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Rams have posted since March 24th.
Like Akron, Merino also got a great game from a two-way player: Kaleb Knutson. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits over four innings pitched. Knutson was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one triple, one run, and one RBI. That triple was his first of the season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Isaac Poe, who went 2-for-4 with three stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI. He has become a key player for Merino: the team is undefeated when he posts at least two runs, but 3-5 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Tyler Everhart, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI.
Merino's win was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-5. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.8 runs on average over those games. As for Akron, their win bumped their record up to 7-3.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Wednesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Akron has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Merino struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Akron came out on top in a nail-biter against Merino in their previous meeting back in May of 2025, sneaking past 3-2. Will Akron repeat their success, or does Merino has a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
