The Jonesboro Hurricane will head out to challenge the Batesville Pioneers at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
Jonesboro took a loss when they played away from home two weeks ago, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Tuesday. They were the clear victors by a 19-9 margin over Little Rock Southwest. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Hurricane as it put an end to their five-game losing streak.
Braylynn Calloway was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run, two stolen bases, and three runs. That home run was her first of the season. Ella Green was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing a base while going 3-for-5.
Batesville hadn't beaten West Memphis on the road since March 30, 2021 but that history sure didn't bother them on Tuesday. The Pioneers blew past the Blue Devils 20-5. That looming 20-5 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Pioneers yet this season.
Addilyn Bookout made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She struck out seven batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Bookout was also solid in the batter's box, scoring three runs and stealing a base while getting on base in two of her five plate appearances.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Addyson Fisher, who scored four runs and stole a base while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances. Another player making a difference was Shaylee Horton, who scored a run and stole two bases while getting on base in three of her five plate appearances.
Batesville always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .578. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as West Memphis only posted an OBP of .400.
Jonesboro's win was their first in the conference, bumping their conference record up to 1-2 and their overall record up to 3-6. As for Batesville, their victory ended a 12-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 4-6.
Monday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Jonesboro hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .490. However, it's not like Batesville struggles in that department as they've averaged .343. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Jonesboro suffered a grim 18-1 defeat to Batesville in their previous meeting back in March of 2024. Can the Hurricane avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
