OXFORD, Ala. – Jayden Sawyer struck out 13 and hit a three-run home run to help keep No. 7 Jones in the winner's bracket with a 5-1 victory over No. 21 Johnson County on Wednesday at Choccolocco Park. 

Jones improved to 2-0 in the NJCAA Division II World Series and will be one of six teams remaining vying for a national title when they play next.

Jones, 49-8, will meet No. 2 Murray State, 61-1, on Thursday at 6:15 p.m. at Signature Field in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Sawyer got the Bobcats off to a great start by striking out the first two batters she faced.

Jones then loaded the bases in the bottom of the first with a chance to make a statement early, but left them stranded after back-to-back strikeouts.

Scoreless into the bottom of the third, Sawyer changed that with her three-run home run, scoring Claire Andersen and Makynlie Jones after back-to-back singles. Emily Mizelle followed a batter later with a solo shot to make it 4-0 Cats.

Sawyer struck out the side in the fourth and fifth, working around a pair of singles and a run-scoring hit. 

Addy Shorter's two-out, RBI-double to right field in the sixth scored Meredith Fontenot after a single to give Jones a big insurance run and 5-1 lead.

Sawyer plunked the first batter of the seventh, struck out the next and then got Izzy Carter to line into a game-ending 5-3 double play. 

Sawyer registered her ninth game of double digit strikeouts with 13 punch outs against only one walk.

Thursday's game, and all games at the DII World Series, are streaming live at NJCAA.org/network for a fee. Tickets are $12/daily and on-site only at Choccolocco Park.