ELLISVILLE – Jones responded in a big way, after a shutout loss to Shelton State, with a 12-3 run-rule victory over No. 10 LSU Eunice to cap a tripleheader at The Bank on Wednesday.
Jones, ranked 17th in the NJCAA, moved to 10-4 on the young season and 7-1 at home.
The Bobcats will be on the road for their next four games, traveling to Bay Minette, Alabama, and Fulton to play Coastal Alabama-South, Wallace State and Des Moines Area.
Shelton State 1, Jones 0
Two passed balls and an RBI-double in the first was all the offense the Bucs would need to pick up their third win of the year.
Carolyne Hicklinski struck out on three pitches to start the game, but reached on a passed ball. Another passed ball setup a runner in scoring position when Trinity Wilkinson doubled to score the only run of the game.
Jayden Sawyer struck out 11 and allowed just four hits.
Jones never threatened until the bottom of the sixth when they had the tying run at third with one out. Sawyer hit a ball to third base and
Elise Jackson was thrown out at home trying to score.
Emma Moore singled to start the seventh, stole second and reached third on a groundout but was stranded to end the game on a strikeout.
Lexi Darnell tossed a five-hit shutout for the Bucs with three strikeouts.
Moore was 3-for-3 to lead Jones.
Jones 12, LSUE 3 (5 inn.)
A seven-run third inning busted the game wide open with
Kaleigh Steverson,
Emily Mizelle and Sawyer all hitting home runs as part of a run-rule victory.
Moore's RBI-double made it 3-0 after two.
Steverson led off the third with a solo shot to left, Mizelle homered to center two batters later and Sawyer drilled a grand slam to left to make it 10-0.
Pinch-hitter Katie Salling singled to get LSUE on the board in the fourth and another run scored off an error. Gracee Hess added an RBI-single to cut the lead to 10-3.
Makynlie Jones' RBI-double and a throwing error got two back for Jones in the bottom of the fourth to put the run-rule back in play.
Mizelle, Jones and Jackson had two hits apiece to go along with Moore's three RBIs and four from Sawyer.
Reanna Nieman (6-1) allowed one earned run with four strikeouts for the complete-game win.
