Softball Game Preview: Mandarin Mustangs vs. Andrew Jackson Tigers

The Mandarin Mustangs will face off against the Andrew Jackson Tigers at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. The timing isn't great for Mandarin: they have been struggling with four straight losses at home dating back to last season, while Andrew Jackson has snatched up three consecutive wins on the road.

Having struggled with three losses in a row, Mandarin turned things around against Wolfson on Wednesday. They were the clear victor by a 9-3 margin over the Wolfpack.

Kyra Ashton

Batters Struck Out (Career)

03/05/25 @ Wolfson	9
02/21/25 vs Creekside	2
02/28/25 @ Baldwin	1
03/13/24 vs Wolfson	1

Kyra Ashton spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on five hits and racked up nine Ks. Those nine strikeouts gave her a new career-high.

At the plate, Gracianna Peck-Headley was incredible, scoring three runs while going 3-for-3. Another player making a difference was Blake Thomas, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3.

Peck-Headley wasn't the only one working in the hit department: Mandarin kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. Mandarin is 2-1 when they post 11 or more hits.

Meanwhile, Andrew Jackson gave up the first runs last Tuesday, but they didn't let that get them down. They came out on top against Englewood by a score of 15-10. The victory continues a trend for the Tigers in their matchups with the Rams: they've now won five in a row.

Andrew Jackson's win bumped their record up to 4-2. As for Mandarin, their victory bumped their record up to 3-4.

Mandarin took their win against Andrew Jackson in their previous meeting back in March of 2023 by a conclusive 15-0. Will Mandarin repeat their success, or does Andrew Jackson have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.