DECATUR – On the verge of being run-ruled in the opening game of the day at top-ranked East Central, the Bobcats showed tremendous resolve to score a bunch of runs late and then got a huge split with a 13-2 rout in the nightcap. 

Jones outscored ECCC 19-2 over the final 10 innings of Tuesday's doubleheader.

A team that was averaging 13.5 runs-per-game was held to two by Brayson Graham and Trevor Hodges in game two. 

Jones returns to action Tuesday, March 17, hosting No. 3 Pearl River for a 3 o'clock twinbill.

East Central 12, Jones 9

Two outs away from being run-ruled in the top of the seventh, Jones made it interesting with six runs over the final three frames and Drew Lambert held ECCC scoreless. 

Mason Hickman hit a solo home run for the Warriors in the first to put them on top early.

Jones was able to tie the game at 2-2 in the third on a fielder's choice and passed ball and then Chase Russell's RBI-single in the fourth gave the Bobcats their first lead, 3-2.

Still a one-run game in the fifth, a two-run double for Sawyer Bates and two-run blast by Ryan Nelson gave EC a 9-3 lead.

Down 12-3 entering the seventh, Jones plated three runs thanks to two walks, a hit-by-pitch and two wild pitches. A Sanders Ainsworth RBI-single and passed ball later in the inning pulled Jones within 12-8 after eight.

Ainsworth had a chance to extend the game in the top of the ninth with him being the tying run, but he struck out to end the game.

Colton Smith (6-1) suffered his first loss of the year. He allowed nine runs on nine hits in 4.2.

Jones 13, East Central 2

Graham allowed two, first-inning runs to the Warriors, but he and Hodges hung six straight zeros after that to allow Jones to stick around and plate 13 runs over the final two frames.

Down 2-0 in the sixth, a leadoff error sparked a three-error inning for ECCC and the Bobcats eventually plated eight runs on only three hits to take an 8-2 lead.

Russell's bases-loaded walk gave Jones a 3-2 lead and an Ainsworth hit-by-pitch, Talan Theriot infield single and Warren Hutchinson single made it 8-2.

Dakota Smith led off the seventh for Jones with a single and Theriot and Dash Piper added RBI-singles later in the inning to push it out to 13-2.

Theriot was 4-for-4 with two RBIs and Hutchinson had two hits. 

Hodges (4-0) tossed the final four innings in relief of Graham, allowing three hits with three strikeouts and two walks.