Jacksonville is 0-4 against Central since March of 2019 but things could change on Friday. The Titans will look to defend their home field against the Tigers at 5:00 p.m. Jacksonville has given up an average of 14.6 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
For some reason, the away team has come away with the win the last four times Jacksonville and Little Rock Christian Academy have met, but the home crowd finally got their W on Tuesday. The Titans lost 18-3 to the Warriors.
Central not only won on Thursday, but they posted their biggest win since March 17th (when they won 18-0). They put the hurt on Little Rock Southwest with a sharp 17-6 victory. The win continues a trend for the Tigers in their matchups with the Gryphons: they've now won nine in a row.
Hali Tucker made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over six innings while giving up four earned (and two unearned) runs off five hits. Those seven strikeouts gave her a new career-high. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
In other batting news, Central let Kennedy Smith and Emmarie Blackwell run wild. Smith went 2-for-4 with three runs, four RBI, and one triple, while Blackwell went 1-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and one stolen base. That's the most hits Smith has posted since back in March. The team also got some help courtesy of Eleanor Schuchard, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Central kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least ten hits in three consecutive games.
Jacksonville's defeat dropped their record down to 6-12. As for Central, their victory bumped their record up to 8-13.
Jacksonville suffered a grim 15-0 defeat to Central in their previous matchup back in April of 2025. Can the Titans avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
