COLUMBUS, Ga. – Playing some of the best competition in NJCAA Division I and II softball at the prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic over the weekend, No. 8 Jones went 3-2 with a Top 5 win over Des Moines Area.
The Bobcats ran their season record out to 13-4 and will round out non-conference play in March on Tuesday against nationally-ranked Lansing.
Jones 6, DMACC 2
A five-run sixth inning, highlighted by
Sadie Wells' first collegiate home run, helped Jones to a tournament-opening win over second-ranked DMACC.
Jones led 1-0 through four.
In the sixth, a double steal between
Aaliyah Dixon and
Kathryn Smith plated the Bobcats' second run before Wells' homer and RBI-single from
Nia Luckett made it 6-0.
Amaya Snyder's two-run shot in the sixth provided the lone runs for the Bears.
Holly Craft scattered two runs on four hits with 11 strikeouts for the win.
Fla. SouthWestern 5, Jones 4
Jones jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second before the Bucs rallied for five unanswered over the third and fourth innings to hang on for the win.
Dixon homered to get JC on the board, followed by
Tia'Rain Saunders' RBI-single and error plated another.
FSW tied the game at 3-3 with three runs in the third on a wild pitch, sac fly and RBI-single.
Fourth-year sophomore Feline Poot's two-run home run in the fourth put FSW ahead for good.
Seminole State 2, Jones 0
Nia Luckett had a great start spoiled with no run support as the Raiders scored on a pair of RBI-singles to blank Jones.
Luckett scattered six hits and two runs over seven innings with five strikeouts.
The Raiders plated single runs in the first and third.
Jones 6, Wabash Valley 0
Saunders,
Lauren Lindsey, Craft and
Landry Dupont each had multiple hits as Jones shutout the Warriors.
Three Bobcat pitchers combined for the shutout.
Craft went 2.1 hitless innings,
Hanna Zeitz 2.2 scoreless and Luckett two scoreless.
Lindsey homered and Saunders tripled.
Jones 9, Chipola 6
The Bobcats jumped out 8-2 after three innings and held off an Indian comeback to sweep the day.
Six of Jones' nine hits went for extra bases.
Meg Gatlin doubled, Smith, Craft and
Gabby Hoffman homered.
Craft picked up her fifth win and Luckett a save.