The Herrin Tigers are taking a road trip to challenge the Chester Yellowjackets at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Herrin took a six-run loss the last time they faced off against Pinckneyville, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Tigers sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 13-11 victory over the Panthers on Thursday.
Jaxon Hudson
| 03/19/26 @ Pinckneyville | 4 |
| 05/19/25 @ Marion | 3 |
| 05/10/25 @ Trico | 2 |
| 04/24/25 vs Benton | 4 |
Jaxon Hudson was a major factor no matter where he played. He tossed four innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. What's more, he posted four strikeouts, the most he's had since back in April of 2025. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.
In other batting news, Jaxton Faulkenberry was excellent, getting on base in four of his five plate appearances with two runs, one double, and one RBI. That's the most runs he has posted since back in March of 2025. Another player making a difference was Harper Shoemaker, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Chester gave their fans exactly what they wanted out of a home opener on Wednesday. They blew past Marissa 16-1.
Like Herrin, Chester also got a great game from a two-way player: Trayton Peters. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out seven over four innings pitched. Peters was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with three RBI, one run, and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Alex Blechle, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, three RBI, and two doubles. Rusty Korando was another key player, going 2-for-3 with four runs and one stolen base.
Herrin got the 'W' in their previous meeting back in March of 2025 against Chester by a conclusive 9-2 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Tigers since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
