ELLISVILLE – Fourth-ranked Jones College posted an important MACCC sweep here Saturday afternoon at Community Bank Park.
The Bobcats defeated Northeast Mississippi 12-5 in game one and capped the evening with a 7-1 victory in game two.
The second victory was the 200th in the MACCC coaching career of Bobcat head coach
Wes Thigpen.
It was also a big day because the 2016 NJCAA Division II national championship Bobcat baseball team was recognized before the game on the 10th anniversary of the title.
Jones, 33-12 overall and 16-6 in the conference, will host Hinds in a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Wednesday.
Northeast drops to 23-24 overall, 10-12 in MACCC play.
Jones 12, Northeast 5
Brayson Graham went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and
Chase Russell hit a three-run home run and threw 6.1 quality innings in the opener.
The Bobcats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first as
Dylan Champagne's bunt scored
Warren Hutchinson who started the inning with a single.
In the second Jones sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs, highlighted by Russell's three-run home run, his 12th of the season. Hutchinson had a two-run single in the inning.
After the Tigers scored twice in the top of the third, the Bobcats answered with two runs to make it 8-2.
Sanders Ainsworth had an RBI double and Champagne an RBI single in the inning.
Leading 8-3 in the bottom of the sixth with the bases empty and two outs,
Talan Theriot walked and
Gage Reeves was hit by a pitch. Graham followed with an RBI double and Reeves would score on a wild pitch to make it 10-3.
In the bottom of the eighth, Theriot singled and Reeves was hit by a pitch. Graham then delivered a two-run single.
Russell (4-2) allowed three runs (two earned), six hits, walked one and struck out three.
Caden Freeman went the final 2.2 innings, allowed two runs, two hits, a walk and notched two strikeouts.
Graham doubled and had three singles, Russell homered and singled and Hutchinson singled twice. Ainsworth doubled and Champagne, Theriot,
Brayden Quick and
Eli Wheat added singles.
Hank Eaton doubled and singled for the Tigers with Kieran Coleman getting two singles.
Eaton started on the mound, pitched an inning-plus, allowed six runs (five earned), six hits, walked one and took the loss.
Jones 7, Northeast 1
Drew Lambert allowed one run over the first 4.1 innings and
Trevor Hodges went the final 2.2 innings to get his sixth save as the Bobcats completed the sweep.
The first four Tiger batters reached in the top of the first, but Lambert recorded three straight strikeouts to get out of the inning.
Jones took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first. Russell and Ainsworth singled and Champagne got an RBI bunt single to the game at 1-1. Ainsworth would score on a wild pitch and Graham followed with an RBI single.
The Bobcats went ahead 6-1 in the second. Hutchinson singled, Russell walked, Ainsworth reached on a fielder's choice and Champagne followed with a two-run double down the right field line. Theriot then delivered an RBI single.
Jones finished the scoring in the sixth when
Dakota Smith led off with a single, Hutchinson walked, Russell reached on a fielder's choice and Ainsworth followed with a sacrifice fly to center.
Lambert (4-2) allowed one run, six hits, walked two and struck out seven. Hodges gave up three hits, no walks and struck out four.
Champagne doubled and singled and Hutchinson and Smith each had two singles. Russell, Ainsworth, Theriot and Graham added singles.
Conner McKnatt had three singles for Northeast and Brett Haas doubled.
Starter Matthew Osteen went 2.2 innings and took the loss. He allowed six runs, nine hits, walked two and struck out one.
