MacArthur is 0-8 against Central A & M since April of 2017 but things could change on Saturday. The Generals will venture away from home to take on the Raiders at 10:00 a.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
MacArthur is headed into Saturday's contest looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their 19th straight game dating back to last season on Thursday. They were a single run away from ending the streak, but they lost a 12-11 heartbreaker at the hands of Decatur Eisenhower. On the bright side, the 11- run performance marked the Generals' highest-scoring matchup to date.
MacArthur got a massive performance out of Lacey Jackson, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, and one double. Those runs marked the first that Jackson has scored this season. Casey Jackson was another key player, going 3-for-5 with three runs, one triple, and two RBI.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Central A & M, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Wednesday. They walked away with an 11-6 win over Clinton on Friday. The victory continues a trend for the Raiders in their matchups with the Maroons: they've now won four in a row.
Gwyn Hardimon made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out 11 batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and four unearned) runs off six hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run. That's the most hits she has posted since back in March of 2024.
In other batting news, Sophie Roe and Lyndi Woods did most of the damage at the plate: Roe went 3-for-5 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base, while Woods went a perfect 4-for-4 with three stolen bases and three runs. That's the most runs Woods has posted over her last nine games. The team also got some help courtesy of Callie Robertson, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run.
Central A & M always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .528. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Clinton only posted an OBP of .312.
Central A & M's win was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 10-9. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.4 runs on average over those games. As for MacArthur, their loss dropped their record down to 0-10.
Saturday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. MacArthur hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .317. However, it's not like Central A & M struggles in that department as they've averaged .332. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
MacArthur might still be hurting after the 12-1 defeat they got from Central A & M when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Generals avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
