Softball Preview: Jefferson Academy Jaguars vs. Forge Christian Fury
Jefferson Academy is 0-5 against Forge Christian since September of 2022 but things could change on Friday. The Jefferson Academy Jaguars will look to defend their home field against the Forge Christian Fury at 4:30 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Jefferson Academy headed into their last game having not scored more than two runs for four straight, but Jefferson let them put that streak behind them. Jefferson Academy put the hurt on Jefferson with a sharp 20-1 victory on Wednesday. The high-scoring performance was a welcome turnaround for the Jaguars' hitters, who had struggled in the games prior.
Aubrey Cox was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing three innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. Cox was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring four runs and stealing a base while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
In other batting news, Madeline Scoggins was a standout: she scored four runs and stole two bases while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances. Another player making a difference was Zoey White, who went 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, four RBI, and a run.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the score, Jefferson Academy always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .903. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, everything went Forge Christian's way against Arvada on Thursday as Forge Christian made off with a 16-1 win.
Like Jefferson Academy, Forge Christian also got a great game from a two-way player: Julianna Alfaro. On the mound, she struck out seven batters over four innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits (and only one walk). Alfaro has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in six consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
In other batting news, Forge Christian let Rio Beck and Peyton Chester loose on the outfield. Beck scored four runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4, while Chester went 4-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI. The dominant performance also gave Chester a new career-high in hits. Kaedence Miller was another key player, scoring two runs while going 2-for-3.
Jefferson Academy's victory ended a six-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 7-13. As for Forge Christian, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won seven of their last eight matchups, which provided a nice bump to their 16-6 record this season.
Friday's contest will be a test for both team's pitchers. Jefferson Academy hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of 0. However, it's not like Forge Christian struggles in that department as they've averaged 0. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Jefferson Academy suffered a grim 22-2 defeat to Forge Christian in their previous matchup last Tuesday. Will Jefferson Academy have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
