Softball | 3/9/2019 8:37:00 AM
COLUMBUS, Georgia – Top-ranked Jones College had a good day on the first day of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic.
The Lady Bobcats went 3-0 here on Friday, posting a 6-4 win over No. 4 Kirkwood (Iowa), a 5-3 victory over Indian River (Florida) and a 3-2 decision over Northwest Florida State.
Jones is now 13-2 and has won 11 straight games.
They will continue play at noon Saturday with brackets to be determined after the conclusion of games early Saturday morning.
No. 1 Jones 6, No. 4 Kirkwood 4
The Lady Bobcats broke a 4-4 tie with two runs in the top of the seventh inning and held on to beat Kirkwood.
LP Trammell (Germantown) doubled to start the top of the seventh inning and was sacrificed to third by
Raven Blackwell (St. Patrick). After a walk to
McKennah Sikes (Van Buren, Arkansas),
Faith Denton (Northwest Rankin) followed with an RBI single to left.
Kayla Collins (East Central) followed with an RBI double to right.
Hallie Donald (Mooreville) went the distance and got the win. She allowed four runs, eight hits, walked one and struck out eight as she improved to 7-0.
Rebekah DiLavore (Ocala, Florida) doubled and singled and drove in two runs and Denton singled twice. Sikes homered and had two RBIs with Trammell and Collins adding doubles.
Kirkwood led 1-0 after one, 2-0 after three and 3-2 after four. Jones took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth and Kirkwood tied it in the bottom of the inning.
That was the first loss of the season for Kirkwood.
No. 1 Jones 5, Indian River 3
A three-run first inning sparked Jones to the win.
Trailing 1-0, Trammell led off with a walk and with two outs, Denton singled. Collins followed with an RBI single and
Raylen Blackwell (St. Patrick) drove in two runs with a double.
Lauren Stringer (Taylorsville) was the winning pitcher. She went seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned), eight hits, walked two and had six strikeouts. She is now 3-1 on the year.
After cutting the lead to 4-3 in the top of the sixth, Indian River still had runners on second and third with one out. But Stringer got a pop up and a strikeout to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Indian River had runners on second and third with one out, but Stringer got a strikeout and a fielder's choice ground out to end the game.
Denton doubled and singled with Collins adding two singles.
Raylen Blackwell had a double and Sikes had a single.
Jones led 3-1 after one, 4-2 after three and 5-3 after six.
Indian River, a Division I team, fell to 9-10 with that loss.
No. 1 Jones 3, Northwest Florida 2
The pitching of
Marley Peagler (Brandon) and a three-run second inning proved to be the difference in the final game of the evening.
Peagler went the distance, giving up two runs, five hits and no walks. She had six strikeouts and improved her record to 3-1.
In the bottom of the second down 1-0, Denton led off by reaching on an error and Collins followed with a single. Donald doubled to center to drive in both runs. With two outs,
Carlee Nations (Enterprise-Lincoln) singled to right to score Donald.
Sikes had two singles, while Donald doubled and Trammell, Collins and
Carlee Nations added singles.
Jones led 3-1 after two and 3-2 after three.
Northwest Florida is now 13-14.
