DECATUR – Kalyn Watts hit a two-run home run to cap a three-run fifth inning rally and help No. 7 Jones County to a 4-3 victory in game one over 2^nd-ranked East Central here Wednesday afternoon.
Rachel Hayes allowed just three hits in posting the win.
ECCC took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run home run by Brittney McCray.
It stayed that way until the fifth inning.
Ashley Valentine led off the inning with a double and was replaced by courtesy runner Brittany Hagwood. Hayes sacrificed Hagwood to third base and Natalie Hogue's sacrifice fly scored Hagwood.
Cori McCrary then singled and Watts followed with a two-run home run to centerfield to give JCJC a 3-2 lead.
Kelly Byrd led off the sixth inning with a home run and gave the Lady Bobcats a 4-2 lead.
Mahalia Gibson homered for ECCC in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-3.
Hayes gave up a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh, but then she recorded a pair of fly ball outs to end the game.
Watts and Byrd each homered and singled, while McCrary singled twice and Valentine doubled for Jones.
Hayes, 7-1, went the distance, allowed three runs, three hits, walked three and struck out seven.
McCray and Gibson homered for ECCC and Courtney Moore added a single.
Lacey Hill went the distance and took the loss in the circle. She allowed four runs, seven hits, walked none and struck out three.