The Hebron Christian Lions will face off against the East Jackson Eagles at 6:00 p.m. on Friday.
Thursday just wasn't the day for Hebron Christian's offense. They came up short against Rabun Gap-Nacoochee on Thursday, falling 11-0. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest defeat the Lions have suffered since April 29, 2024.
Hebron Christian got a good showing from Gus Steve, who pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits.
On the hitting side, Hebron Christian saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Dean Livingston, who went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases.
Meanwhile, it may have taken nine innings to finish the job, but East Jackson ultimately got the result they hoped for on Wednesday. They had just enough and edged out Hebron Christian 5-4. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Eagles have posted since April 16, 2024.
Warren Hilley tossed a big game, striking out six batters over seven innings while giving up four earned runs off nine hits.
At the plate, Jayden Nunez was excellent, going 2-for-4 with one home run and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Nick Carpenter, who went 3-for-5 with one RBI.
East Jackson's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 9-6. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.3 runs over those games. As for Hebron Christian, this is the second loss in a row for them and nudges their season record down to 8-7.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Hebron Christian has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like East Jackson struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.6 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
