EUNICE, Louisiana – The 5^th-rated Jones County Junior College Lady Bobcats are headed back to Clinton.
JCJC upset No. 1 ranked LSU-Eunice 4-2 here Saturday at Bengal Park in the winner's bracket game of the Region 23 Tournament. It was the 17^th consecutive win for the Lady Bobcats.
JCJC, 44-6, will now play for tournament title at noon Sunday vs. LSU-Eunice. If LSU-Eunice wins that game, another game would follow.
LSU-Eunice, 53-6, rebounded to beat East Central 8-4 in an elimination game. East Central had earlier knocked Mississippi Gulf Coast out of the tourney with a 7-3 decision.
But Saturday's victory assures the Lady Bobcats of a berth in NJCAA Division II National Tournament at Traceway Park in Clinton on May 18-21. It will be JCJC's fourth trip to the national tournament in five years.
The Lady Bobcats came out quickly against the Bengals.
Kalyn Watts and Cori McCrary led off the game with singles. With Watts on third base and McCrary at first, JCJC executed a double steal and Watts scored to make it 1-0. After Brittany Baty walked, Natalie Hogue singled McCrary home.
Meanwhile, JCJC starting pitcher Rachel Hayes kept LSU-Eunice in check.
She did not allow a hit until one out in the fifth inning when Jeannemarie Angelle singled. With two outs in the inning, Jaci Lavigne singled and Madison Edmonston followed with an RBI single to make it 2-1.
The Lady Bobcats got the run back in the top of the sixth when Hogue led off with a single and was replaced by courtesy runner Shelby Nelson. Autumn Frost then singled and Hayes sacrificed. Ashley Valentine's fielder's choice drove in Nelson.
LSU-Eunice got a leadoff home run from Darby Bishop in the bottom of the sixth to make it 3-2.
But the Lady Bobcats answered back with a run in the seventh.
Watts drew a walk and McCrary reached on an error. After Kelly Byrd sacrificed, Baty's groundout drove in Watts.
Hayes retired the Bengals in order in the bottom of the seventh and the Lady Bobcats and their fans celebrated.
Hayes, 26-1, got the win. She allowed two runs, four hits, walked three and struck out seven.
Hogue had two singles, while Watts, McCrary, Byrd, Frost and Hayes added singles.
Abigail Leonards started, went the first four innings and took the loss for LSU-Eunice. She gave up two runs (one earned), five hits, walked two and struck out one. Jordan Dougherty pitched the final three innings, allowed two runs (one earned), two hits, walked one and struck out one.
Bishop homered for the Bengals with Edmonston, Angelle and Lavigne adding singles.

Region 23 Tournament

At LSU-Eunice
Friday's results
Game 1, Jones County 3, East Central 2
Game 2, LSU-Eunice 4, Mississippi Gulf Coast 3
Saturday's results
Game 3, Jones County 4, LSU-Eunice 2
Game 4, East Central 7, Mississippi Gulf Coast 4
Game 5, LSU-Eunice 8, East Central 4
Sunday's games
Game 6, Jones County vs. LSU-Eunice, noon
Game 7, if necessary, 30 minutes after Game 6
Note: Both JCJC and LSU-Eunice qualify for the NJCAA Division II National Tournament May 18-21 in Clinton.