Softball Game Preview: Jones Trojans vs. Liberty Christian Academy Heat

Jones has gone a perfect 3-0 against Liberty Christian Academy recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Thursday. The Trojans will face off against the Heat at 4:00 p.m. Jones is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.5 runs per game this season.

Jones took a loss when they played away from home last Tuesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Thursday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Southside, sneaking past 5-4. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Trojans have posted since April 16, 2024.

Payten Plyler

Base on Balls Against

04/17/25 vs Southside	0
04/15/25 @ Southside	2
04/08/25 vs Northside - Pinetown	1

Payten Plyler made a big impact no matter where she played. She struck out eight batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off eight hits (and not a single walk). She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one triple, one run, and one RBI.

In other batting news, Riley Murphy was excellent, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and one run. Kynlee Whaley also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.

Jones was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .419. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.

Meanwhile, Liberty Christian Academy entered their tilt with Spring Creek on Tuesday with two consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with three. They walked away with a 7-4 victory over the Gators.

Liberty Christian Academy pushed their record up to 4-7 with the win, which was their third straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 15.0 runs over those games. As for Jones, with the win, they broke their three-game losing streak and moved their record to 5-8.

Jones took their victory against Liberty Christian Academy in their previous meeting back in March by a conclusive 11-1 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Trojans since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.