vs
| 03/25/24 - Home | 10-0 W |
| 03/22/23 - Away | 10-7 W |
| 04/16/21 - Home | 9-0 W |
| 04/08/16 - Away | 9-4 W |
The First Academy is a perfect 4-0 against Ocoee since April of 2016 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Thursday. The Royals are taking a road trip to take on the Knights at 6:00 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
While The First Academy didn't have the best season last year (they finished 10-14), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They put the hurt on Harmony with a sharp 14-1 win on Tuesday. The result was nothing new for the Royals, who have now won six contests by six runs or more so far this season.
Emerson Gunkel looked comfortable as she pitched four innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances.
At the plate, The First Academy let Brianna Kennedy and Luna Taboas run wild. Kennedy went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two doubles, and one run, while Taboas went a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI and one run. Nola-Blair Simmons also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.
The First Academy always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .543. That was just more of the same: they've now posted an OBP of .500 or higher in four consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Ocoee had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 13 runs) and they went ahead and made it three on Tuesday. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 13-12 W against the Bulldogs.
The team relied heavily on Trista Fitzpatrick, who went 3-for-5 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April of 2025. Zoey Gray was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.
The First Academy's record now sits at 8-2. As for Ocoee, their record is now an identical 8-2.
Ocoee's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Thursday. The First Academy has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.4 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Ocoee, though, as they've been averaging only 1.7 strikeouts. Will The First Academy keep running through batters, or will the Knights buck the trend?
The First Academy got the 'W' in their previous matchup back in March of 2024 against Ocoee by a conclusive 10-0 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Royals since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
