Wildcats
| 04/28/25 @ Frankfort | 9 |
| 04/22/25 @ Pinckneyville | 11 |
| 04/18/25 @ Nashville | 13 |
| 04/16/25 @ Century | 16 |
| 04/15/25 vs Frankfort | 10 |
| + 17 more games |
Anna-Jonesboro is a perfect 3-0 against Benton since April of 2024 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Tuesday. The Wildcats will square off against the Rangers at 4:30 p.m. Anna-Jonesboro is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 13.1 runs per game this season.
Anna-Jonesboro can't be too worried about heading out to take on Benton: they just beat Frankfort at home, who had been dominant on their own field up to that point. The Wildcats were the clear victors by a 9-2 margin over the Redbirds on Monday. The Wildcats haven't had any issues with the Redbirds recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive victory against them.
Ruby Yates spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and one unearned) run on five hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk in 16 consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Ariana Turner was incredible, firing off two home runs while going 3-for-4. That's the most home runs she has posted since back in April of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Kansas Craig, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI, one run, and one double.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Anna-Jonesboro kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 11 hits in six consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Benton lost 11-2 to Pinckneyville on Monday.
Benton saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Carlie James (2026), who went 3-for-4 with two RBI.
Anna-Jonesboro's record now sits at 19-3. As for Benton, their defeat dropped their record down to 12-9.
Benton's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Anna-Jonesboro has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 12.8 hits per game. It's a different story for Benton, though, as they've been averaging 9 hits. Given Anna-Jonesboro's sizable advantage in that area, the Rangers will need to find a way to close that gap.
Anna-Jonesboro took their win against Benton in their previous meeting on April 8th by a conclusive 16-1 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Wildcats since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
