ELLISVILLE – Fourth-ranked Jones County Junior College broke out the long ball to salvage a split with Lansing Community College (Michigan).
JCJC slugged six home runs in game two as they defeated the Stars, 12-4 in six innings, here Wednesday afternoon at Community Bank Park.
JCJC got two home runs each from Kalyn Watts and Kelly Byrd and home runs from Jay Harris and Brittany Baty as they rolled to the win.
Watts also singled and drove in four runs, while Baty had three RBIs. Harris also had a single. Autumn Frost had a double and Shelby Nelson singled.
Watts now has eight home runs on the season, Baty has seven and Byrd has four.
Jasmine Hill pitched 2 2/3 innings and was credited with the win. She allowed four earned runs, six hits, walked one and struck out one. Haylee Morse pitched the final 3 1/3 innings and got a save. She did not give up a run, allowed three hits, walked one and struck out two.
After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning, the Lady Bobcats answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
Watts led off with a single and Cori McCrary drew a walk. With one out, Baty homered to center to give JCJC a 3-2 lead.
The Lady Bobcats took an 8-2 lead in the second inning.
Ashley Valentine was hit by a pitch to start the inning and was replaced by courtesy runner Brittany Hagwood. Harris singled and Nelson's single scored Hagwood. Watts then slugged a three-run home run and one out later, Byrd homered.
Lansing made it 8-4 in the top of the third, but Harris hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning.
Byrd hit her second home run of the game in the fourth to increase the lead to 10-4.
JCJC ended the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Watts led off the inning with a home run. Byrd then walked and Baty reached on an error. Byrd then scored on Natalie Hogue's sacrifice fly.
Nichole Numerich and Madison Adams each doubled twice for the Stars, while Renae Morton singled twice. Amber Morton and Rebecca Piron each doubled, while Chazney Balmer had a single.
Renae Morton pitched 5 2/3 innings and took the loss. She gave up 12 runs (11 earned), 10 hits, walked four and struck out one.
JCJC, 17-4, will host Meridian Community College at 1 p.m. on March 13. It will be the annual "Pink Out The Park" doubleheader. JCJC's scheduled March 11 doubleheader at Northwest has been postponed because of rain.
Lansing, 1-5, is scheduled to play seven games in a tournament in Niceville, Florida, March 10-12.
 
Wednesday's game
Ellisville
Community Bank Park
Game 2
Jones County 12, Lansing CC (MI) 4
(6 innings)               
Lansing (1-5)                                   202 000 – 4 9 1
Jones County (17-4)                       351 102 – 12 10 1
WP-Jasmine Hill (1-0). SV-Haylee Morse (1). LP-Renae Morton. LCC hitters: Nichole Numerich 2 2B; Madison Adams 2 2B; Renae Morton 2 1B; Amber Morton 2B; Rebecca Piron 2B; Chazney Balmer 1B. JCJC hitters: Kalyn Watts 2 HR, 1B; Kelly Byrd 2 HR; Jay Harris HR, 1B; Brittany Baty HR; Autumn Frost 2B; Shelby Nelson 1B.