FULTON – The homestanding Itawamba Indians did something on Friday that hasn't been done to Jones since 2018.

No. 12 Itawamba took both games, by 7-5 and 5-3 finals, to sweep the conference opener and hand No. 2 Jones its first doubleheader sweep in conference play in three years. The last time it happened, the Bobcats rattled off 21 straight wins to claim the program's first national title.

Jones fell to 11-3 overall (0-2 MACCC) while Itawamba improved to 10-2 (2-0).

Game 1 – Itawamba 7, Jones 5

Tia'Rain Saunders' RBI-single in the third gave Jones its last lead as Itawamba would rally with a three-run home run and take advantage of a pair of costly Bobcat errors to win the opener.

Jones led 3-0 in the top of the second on Lauren Lindsey's two-run homer and a solo shot from Mycah Hall. 

ICC immediately responded in the bottom half, capitalizing on two walks and getting a three-run home run from McKenzie Patterson to knot the game at 3-3.

Saunders' RBI-single put the Bobcats on top, 4-3, in the third but the Indians fired right back in the bottom half with an RBI-double and single to take the lead for good.

Sterling James tossed the final 3.2 innings in relief of Breley Boykin (6-1), scattering four strikeouts, no walks and no earned runs. 

Game 2 – Itawamba 5, Jones 3

Back-to-back home runs from Madison Jenkins and Brianna Posey in the second inning set the tone to help ICC sweep the day.

The lead was 4-1 in the sixth before Lindsey's double and Meagan Wynne's two-run home run cut the deficit to 4-3.

Jones went down swinging in order in the seventh.

Nia Luckett (1-2) went the distance in the circle, scattering five runs, seven hits, four walks and three strikeouts. 

Hall had three of Jones' seven hits. 

The Bobcats have a quick turnaround with a noon first pitch at Mississippi Delta on Saturday. The game will be streamed on MDCC's YouTube channel.