Central Magnet is 0-5 against Lawrence County since April of 2021 but things could change on Friday. Central Magnet will take on Lawrence County at 6:00 p.m. Central Magnet has given up an average of 8.6 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Giles County hit Central Magnet with a four-run second inning on Tuesday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. Central Magnet came up short against Giles County, falling 12-2. Central Magnet has now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Central Magnet saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Sophia Croasdaile, who went 1-for-2 with one run.
Meanwhile, Lawrence County waltzed into their match on Monday with three straight wins... but they left with four. They put the hurt on Central Magnet with a sharp 7-1 win.
Elizabeth Hagan made a splash while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run while striking out nine over seven innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with five RBI. Those three hits gave her a new career-high.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Madi Dollar, who went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and two runs. That's the most stolen bases she has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Laney Kate King, who got on base in two of her four plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base.
Lawrence County's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 12-9. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 7.3 runs over those games. As for Central Magnet, their defeat dropped their record down to 8-13.
Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Central Magnet has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .464. However, it's not like Lawrence County struggles in that department as they've averaged .433. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Central Magnet might still be hurting after the 7-1 loss they got from Lawrence County in their previous meeting on Monday. Can Central Magnet avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.