ELLISVILLE – East Mississippi got off to a fast start and went on to defeat 11th-rated Jones County 8-4 in game two of a doubleheader here Sunday afternoon at Community Bank Park.
The win gave the Lions the sweep over the Bobcats.
JCJC falls to 14-6 overall, 1-3 in the MACJC. The Bobcats have lost three straight games.
EMCC improves to 10-6 overall and now sits atop the league at 4-0.
JCJC visits Southwest Mississippi for a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday and heads to Northwest Mississippi for a 2 p.m. twinbill on Saturday.
The Lions host Holmes on Tuesday.
East Mississippi never trailed in posting the victory.
In the top of the first, David Pimentel got a two-out double and Emil Ellis followed with an RBI double. Hunter Brannan reached on an infield single and Ellis then scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0.
JCJC got a run back in the bottom of the first when Clint Sasser singled, Carter Polles walked and Mason Irby drove in Sasser with a single.
The Lions made it 3-1 in the second when JoVaughn McNabb singled, stole second and scored on Dylan Vuncannon's single.
JCJC trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the second when Dylan Manichia drew a one-out walk, Chris Richardson singled and Landon Nettles drove in the run with a sacrifice fly to rightfield.
EMCC then added three runs in the fourth – again after the first two batters were retired.
McNabb reached on an error, Vuncannon singled and Pimentel was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A wild pitch scored McNabb and Ellis then delivered a two-run single to make it 6-2.
The Lions took an 8-2 lead in the fifth. Blake Key was hit by a pitch to start the inning, Kyle Liberto singled and Corley Reynolds was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Drew Standland then singled a run home and with one out, Vuncannon hit a sacrifice fly to left to drive in another run.
JCJC made it interesting in the seventh.
Nettles was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Chris Morgan followed with a two-run home run. After two outs were recorded, Irby singled and John Alan Wall was hit by a pitch to get the tying run on deck. Jay Booth then entered in relief and struck out Tyler Schankin to end the game.
Morgan homered and singled for the Bobcats, while Irby had two singles. Sasser, Manichia and Richardson added singles.
Ellis doubled, singled and drove in three runs for EMCC, while McNabb, Vuncannon and Brannan added two singles each. Pimentel added a double, while Liberto and Standland added singles.
Perry Turner, 0-1, started and took the loss. He went three innings, allowed three runs, six hits and struck out two. Christian Dale pitched an inning, allowed three runs (none earned), two hits and struck out one. Will Brand pitched two innings, allowed two runs, two hits, hit two and struck out four. TJ Hollis pitched an inning, gave up one hit and struck out one.
Zach Irwin pitched the first five innings and got the win. He gave up two runs, four hits, walked two and struck out six. Jake Bracewell pitched an inning, allowed one hits, hit one and struck out one. Ryder Davis pitched 2/3 of an inning, allowed two runs and two hits. Booth got the final out by a strikeout.
 
Sunday's game
Ellisville
At Community Bank Park
Game 2
East Mississippi 8, Jones County 4
East Mississippi (10-6, 4-0)         210 320 0 – 8 11 1
Jones County (14-6, 1-3)             110 000 2 – 4 7 3
Zach Irwin, Jake Bracewell (6), Ryder Davis (7), Jay Booth (7) and Dylan Vuncannon. Perry Turner, Christian Dale (4), Will Brand (5), TJ Hollis (7) and Aaron Garrett, Landon Nettles (2). WP-Irwin. LP-Turner (0-1). EMCC hitters: Emil Ellis 2B, 1B; JoVaughn McNabb 2 1B; Dylan Vuncannon 2 1B; Hunter Brannan 2 1B; David Pimentel 2B; Kyle Liberto 1B; Drew Standland 1B. JCJC hitters: Chris Morgan HR, 1B; Mason Irby 2 1B; Clint Sasser 1B; Dylan Manichia 1B; Chris Richardson 1B. LOB: EMCC-8; JCJC-8. T-2:17.