By Shawn Wansley
JCJC Sports Information Director
ELLISVILLE – Tenth-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast only picked up two hits, but made the most of them here Friday evening in Game 2 of the MACJC Softball Tournament.
The Lady Bulldogs edged the 2^nd-ranked Jones County Junior College Lady Bobcats 3-2 in the tournament.
The loss drops JCJC, 39-3, into a loser's bracket game vs. Pearl River at 1 p.m. on Saturday. PRCC, 24-23, committed six errors and dropped a 3-0 decision to 11^th-rated East Central in Friday's opener. ECCC, 39-8, meets MGCCC, 39-10, at 3 p.m. in a winner's bracket game.
The JCJC/PRCC winner faces the ECCC/MGCCC loser at 5 p.m. in an elimination game. The championship is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The top three teams in the MACJC Tournament advance to the Region 23 Tournament May 7-9 at the site of the highest remaining seeded team. East Central and Mississippi Gulf Coast clinched berths in the region tournament on Friday.
Lady Bulldogs 3, Lady Bobcats 2
Mississippi Gulf Coast took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first without getting a hit.
Alyssa Hardy was hit by a pitch and was sacrificed to second by Kaitlin Lee. Kamryn Theriot and Hannah Melendrez drew walks to load the bases.
An illegal pitch was then called on JCJC starter Rachel Hayes, which allowed Hardy to score and the other runners to advance. Catelyn Williams then grounded out to shortstop to score Theriot.
But JCJC quickly responded in the bottom of the first.
Jay Harris drew a one-out walk and Tori Dew followed with line drive double to right-center to drive in Harris. Lauren Holifield then singled to put runners on first and third. Brittany Seale's fielder's choice scored Dew to tie the game at 2-2.
The game then settled into a pitcher's duel.
MGCCC got a leadoff double from Catelyn Williams in the fourth, but could not score. JCJC got a leadoff double from Holifeld in the bottom of the fourth and could not score.
In the fifth, the Lady Bobcats got a single from Kimberly Nilsson and Kalyn Watts reached on an error to put two on with one out. But Harris was retired on a sacrifice and Dew hit a hot shot back at Lee, who knocked the ball down, picked it up and threw Dew out at first to end the inning.
In the sixth, Kayleigh Williams replaced Hayes in the circle for JCJC.
Theriot drew a leadoff walk and Melendrez reached on a bunt single while trying to sacrifice. Catelyn Williams then sacrificed to put runners at second and third with one out.
Brittany Cooley's groundout to second base then drove in the run.
JCJC was retired in order in the bottom of the sixth.
In the seventh, Rebecca Monceaux led off with a single to center and was replaced by pinch-runner Lindy Tabor. Hailee Kolwyck then attempted to sacrifice, but MGCCC threw to second to get the force out on Tabor.
Nilsson then grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the game.
Hayes went the first five innings, allowed two runs, one hit, walked three and struck out three. Williams, 10-1, pitched the final two innings and was charged with the loss. She gave up one run, one hit, walked one and struck out one.
Holifield doubled and singled for the Lady Bobcats, while Dew doubled. Monceaux and Nilsson added singles.
Lee went the distance for MGCCC and got the win. She allowed two runs, five hits, walked one and struck out none.
Catelyn Williams doubled and Melendrez singled for the Lady Bulldogs.

MACJC Tournament

Ellisville
At Community Bank Park
Friday's results
Game 1, East Central 3, Pearl River 0
Game 2, Miss. Gulf Coast 3, Jones County 2
Saturday's games
Game 3, Jones County vs. Pearl River, 1 p.m.
Game 4, East Central vs. Mississippi Gulf Coast, 3 p.m.
Game 5, Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 5 p.m.
Sunday's game
Game 6, Championship, 1 p.m.
Game 7, If necessary, 3 p.m.
- Top three teams advance to the Region 23 Tournament May 7-9 at highest seeded team
 
MACJC Tournament
Ellisville
At Community Bank Park
Friday's Game 2
Miss. Gulf Coast 3, Jones County 2
Miss. Gulf Coast (39-10)    200 001 0 – 3 2 1
Jones County (39-3)           200 000 0 – 2 5 0
Kaitlin Lee and Brittany Cooley. Rachel Hayes, Kayleigh Williams (6) and Brittany Seale. WP-Lee. LP-Williams (10-1). MGCCC hitters: Catelyn Williams 2B; Hannah Melendrez 1B. JCJC hitters: Lauren Holifield 2B, 1B; Tori Dew 2B; Rebecca Monceaux 1B; Kimberly Nilsson 1B. LOB: MGCCC-4; JCJC-5. T-1:35.