SENATOBIA – Clay Casey hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift No. 17 Northwest Mississippi to a 3-2 win over No. 8 Jones County Junior College in game one here Saturday afternoon at Jim Miles Field.
The Bobcats led 2-0 entering the bottom of the eighth inning.
With one out, Dalton Dulin doubled and took third on a wild pitch. James Clark then drew a walk.
Casey then greeted JCJC reliever Will Brand with a 3-run home run to give the Rangers the lead.
In the top of the ninth, Chris Morgan was hit by a pitch with one out, but Clint Sasser hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
The Bobcats had taken a 1-0 lead in the third when Carter Polles hit a two-out, solo home run to left.
JCJC made it 2-0 in the sixth.
Mason Irby led off with a double and was replaced by courtesy runner Josh Keel. Keel took third on a groundout and scored on Tyler Schankin's single.
Christian Dale started for Jones. He went 7 1/3 innings, allowed two runs, six hits, walked one and struck out five. Brand, 2-1, pitched 2/3 of an inning and took the loss. He gave up one run and two hits.
J.G. Lipscomb, 1-0, pitched the final three innings and got the win. He gave up no runs, two hits and struck out two. Starter Colt Smith went six innings, allowed two runs, nine hits, walked one and struck four.
Polles homered and doubled for the Bobcats, while Morgan and Irby each doubled and singled. Schankin singled twice, with Dylan Manichia adding a double and John Alan Wall and Richardson getting singles.
Dulin doubled and singled twice for the Rangers. Casey homered and singled with Clark getting two singles. Luke Latham added a single.
 
Saturday's game
At Senatobia
Jim Miles Field
Game 1
Northwest Mississippi 3, Jones County 2
Jones County (15-8, 2-5)            001 001 000 – 2 11 2
Northwest Miss. (12-5, 6-1)         000 000 03x – 3 8 1
Christian Dale, Will Brand (8) and Mason Irby. Colt Smith, J.G. Lipscomb (7) and Kody Kimbrough. WP-Lipscomb (1-0). LP-Brand (2-1). JCJC hitters: Carter Polles HR, 2B; Chris Morgan 2B, 1B; Mason Irby 2B, 1B; Tyler Schankin 2 1B; Dylan Manichia 2B; John Alan Wall 1B; Chris Richardson 1B. NMCC hitters: Dalton 2 1B, 2B; Clay Casey HR, 1B; James Clark 2 1B; Luke Latham 1B. LOB: JCJC-9; NMCC-7. T-2:03.