Madison Central has struggled without ace pitcher Kelly Young while Warren Central has been trying to cope with the mid-year departures of pitcher Mallory Reynolds and outfielder Sydnei Smith.

The Lady Jaguars got better with the return of Young and coupled that with a great-hitting effort as the Lady Vikes took a step back in a 15-2 loss Tuesday at Lucy Young Field.

Warren Central (5-4) was still in the game with Madison Central (8-6), down 6-2 after four innings. Young came in and dominated WC, retiring nine straight Lady Vikes, seven by strikeout.

Madison Central coach Kayla Watkins was glad to get Young back.

“This was a big win for us because we got Kelly Young back,” Watkins said. “She’s been out two weeks with an injury, but we brought her in the fifth inning and she looked sharp.”

The Lady Vikes did not — either in the field or at the plate — after Young entered the game. WC had five errors and only one hit after the third inning. WC coach Dana McGivney was not happy.

“I don’t know what to say,” McGivney said after the blowout loss. “I hope we have a better team on Thursday. We better be.”

Warren Central’s season is on the line Thursday, when the Lady Vikes host Greenville-Weston in a Division 4-6A double-header because they already have a division loss to Vicksburg. The Honey Bees gave up their home game in Greenville in order to get the season series done. The first game will be at 4 p.m. followed by the second game immediately afterwards.

The Lady Vikes have missed Reynolds, who was a solid pitcher and middle-of-the lineup hitter. She transferred to Texas in December. Smith, who chose not to return for her senior season, was an anchor defensively in center field. Three of WC’s five errors against Madison came in the outfield.

For the first three innings, WC hung tough. They had a 1-0 lead after the first inning when Katie Busby scored on a RBI groundout by Chasity Hearn.

Madison answered with four runs in the second off a two-run single by Katie Simpson and a two-run double by Katelyn Murphy. WC got a run back in the third inning when Hearn tripled to score Krista Cortezie to make it 4-2.

From the fourth inning on, the Lady Jaguars teed off scoring 11 runs off 11 hits and three WC errors.

Watkins liked what she saw of the 16 hit-effort, 13 of which came against WC starter Chelsea Worley.

“We hit the ball well,” Watkins said. “For the most part it was all line drives and ground balls.”

Every Madison Central batter had at least one hit. Bailey led the way with three hits and three runs scored. Murphy had two doubles and three RBIs while Simpson had a single, double and three runs scored.

Cortezie had two hits and a run scored to pace WC. Hearn drove in two runs.