ELLISVILLE – No. 5 Jones College split a doubleheader with Holmes here Saturday afternoon at Community Bank Park.
Chase Russell (Madison Central) pitched 6.2 shutout innings in game one as the Bobcats won, 4-3, before the Bulldogs defeated Jones, 17-6, in the finale.
Jones is now 29-10 overall and 15-5 in the MACCC. The Bobcats go to Southwest for a 3 p.m. Tuesday doubleheader.
Holmes is now 26-15 overall, 7-11 in league play.
Jones 4, Holmes 3
Russell allowed just five hits, walked one and struck out four as he improved to 4-1.
Jones took a 1-0 lead in the third inning and added two runs in the sixth and a single run in the seventh.
The Bulldogs scored three runs in the top of the ninth and had the bases loaded with one out. But
Caden Freeman (Marshall Academy) induced a double play ground ball to end the game for his NJCAA-best seventh save.
Brycen Smith (Sumrall) followed Russell to the hill. He pitched 1.2 innings, allowed three runs, one hit, walked one and struck out one. Michah Daniell (Oak Grove) pitched to two batters.
Evan Rogers (Northwest Rankin) doubled and singled to lead Jones and
Cole Manuel (Clinton) had a two-run single.
Talan Theriot (Luling, La.),
TJ Dunsford (Grand Bay, Ala.),
Brice Ainsworth (Brandon) and
Bryson Jones (Northwest Rankin) all singled.
Thomas Kuhn had two singles for the Bulldogs.
Starter Josh Fleming went 6.0 innings, allowed three runs, six hits, walked three, struck out three and took the loss.
Holmes 17, Jones 6
Holmes scored in every inning, but the second and pounded out 16 hits to gain the split.
The Bulldogs scored twice in the top of the first, but Dunsford belted a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning to make it 2-1.
Holmes took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third, but Jones answered with a Russell RBI-single which scored Dunsford.
The Bulldogs put up seven runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to make it 12-2. Russell's fielder's choice grounder scored Theriot in the bottom of the fifth to make it 12-3.
Xavier Myles blasted a two-run homer in the top of the sixth to give Holmes a 14-3 lead. In the bottom of the sixth
Gage Reeves (George County) walked with the bases loaded to score
Braden Smith (Brandon) and Theriot's sacrifice fly scored Ainsworth to make it 14-5.
The Bulldogs added three runs in the top of the seventh. Theriot was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score
Brody Martin (Hernando) in the bottom of the seventh to end the scoring.
Colton Smith (Bossier City, La.), the first of five Bobcat pitchers, took the loss. He went 3.0 innings, allowed eight runs (four earned), five hits, walked four and struck out three.
Dunsford homered and singled and
Braden Smith singled twice for Jones. Theriot, Russell, Manuel, Martin and Ainsworth added singles.
Aiden Bellman, the second of five Holmes pitchers, went 2.2 innings and was credited with the win. He allowed three runs (two earned), five hits, walked three and struck out one.
Myles homered, singled twice and drove in four. Hunter Azemar doubled, singled twice and also had four RBIs. Amari Conley doubled, singled and drove in three runs. Will McClure doubled and singled and Jacob Lott had two singles.
