DECATUR – No. 8 Jones College dropped an 8-5 decision to Copiah-Lincoln in the Decatur Regional of the Region 23 Tournament here at the Clark/Gay Baseball Complex Thursday.
It was the Bobcats' second loss of the tournament to Co-Lin, ending their season at 35-15.
Reise Thomas hit a leadoff home run for the Wolves in the first inning. Bobcat starter
Josh Lee retired 12 straight after that.
Jones tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth on an
Evan Rogers' sacrifice fly.
In the top of the fifth the Wolves took the lead when the first two batters were hit by pitches. The next batter reached on an error allowing a run to score. A bunt single would load the bases followed by an RBI single to left. Back-to-back sacrifice flies drove in two runs and put the Wolves up 5-1.
Co-Lin used two hits and two errors in the seventh to score three runs and take an 8-1 lead.
The Bobcats rallied and had a chance to tie it in the bottom of the ninth.
Dominick Regira led off with a single and
Braden Smith drew a one-out walk.
Preston Scott's single loaded the bases and
Talan Theriot's infield hit drove in a run.
Brice Ainsworth's sacrifice fly made it 8-3 and
Chase Russell then walked to load the bases.
Rogers followed with an RBI single and a fielding error allowed another run to score to make it 8-5. But a ground out would end the rally and the Bobcats' season.
Lee went 4-plus innings, allowed five runs (three earned), two hits, walked none and struck out two. He ends the year at 6-2.
Caden Freeman pitched 3.0 innings, allowed three runs (one earned), four hits, walked two and struck out one.
Micah Daniell pitched 2.0 innings and allowed two hits.
Theriot had three singles for Jones. Rogers and Regira each had two singles. Ainsworth, Russell,
Braden Smith and Lee added singles.
Kim Jennings went 7.0 innings and got the win for Co-Lin, improving to 11-4. He allowed one run, seven hits, walked two and struck out three. Lucas Harrington pitched 1.2 innings and Nash Sturdivant got the final out of the game for his ninth save.
Avery Griffin doubled and singled twice for Co-Lin. Gavin Bledsoe singled twice, Thomas homered and Tucker Jones tripled.
Co-Lin is now 34-24 and will play host East Central Thursday night.
