WESSON – Jones rallied from a 6-0 deficit in the fourth and had the tying run at second base in the bottom of the seventh before bowing out to LSU Eunice, 9-7, in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament Semifinals on Saturday.

LSUE improved to 34-19 and advances to Sunday's championship game against Northwest. Both teams will represent Region 23 in the NJCAA Division II World Series.

Jones' season came to a close at 44-12. 

The Bengals hit Nia Luckett early and chased her after 2.2 innings. Four straight singles, including Madison Prejean's two-RBI single, gave LSUE a 2-0 lead after one.

Another Prejean RBI-single in the third and Jessi Cary two-run single made it 5-0. Madison Diaville's RBI-double extended the lead to 6-0.

The Bobcats finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth after being held hitless through three innings.

Jones scored four runs on three hits in the inning. Tia'Rain Saunders' two-out grand slam to right-center – her first home run of the year –pulled Jones within 6-4.

LSUE immediately responded, using a two-out, two-run homer by Abby Touchet to push it back out to 8-4. 

Lauren Lindsey's RBI-double and Mackenzie Jones' RBI-single made it 8-6 after five.

Trailing 9-6 in the bottom of the seventh, Jones loaded the bases with no outs on a single and pair of walks. Carly Lewis' sac fly made it 9-7. Loaded up again with two outs, a strikeout ended the threat and the Bobcats' season.

Chloe Bennett, who was relieved by Cendall Barton with one out in the fifth, returned in the seventh and got the final three outs. She went 5.1 frames, striking out eight against four walks and allowed five runs.

Luckett took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits. Holly Craft and Hanna Zeitz combined for the final 4.1 in the circle.

LSUE out-hit Jones 13-7 in snapping an eight-game losing streak to the Bobcats.

Saturday's game was Jones' ninth in 11 days.