SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Jones College opened the NJCAA Division II World Series in dominant fashion Wednesday, racing out to an early lead and holding off a late push from State College of Florida for an 8-4 victory at Tyger River Park.
In the first-ever meeting with the Manatees, the Bobcats (47-10) scored eight runs over the first two innings and never looked back to advance in the winner's bracket.
Jones will now face No. 2 Murray State (64-1) at 3:30 p.m. CST Thursday.
The sixth-seeded Bobcats wasted no time offensively. After loading the bases in the opening inning, Madison Sawyer delivered an RBI-single to score Claire Andersen for the game's first run. Annaston Tate followed with an RBI-single of her own before Addy Shorter added a sacrifice fly to give Jones a 3-0 lead after one.
Jones broke the game open in the second inning with five more runs on five hits. Andersen doubled to start the frame and later scored on a wild pitch. Tate came through again with a two-run single to right field, stretching the advantage to 6-0. Farrah James followed with a two-run single up the middle to cap the inning and push the Bobcats ahead 8-0.
Sawyer was sharp in the circle early, striking out six over four scoreless innings while allowing just four hits.
State College of Florida threatened in the second by loading the bases with one out, but Sawyer stranded all three runners with a strikeout and flyout to preserve the shutout.
The Manatees (36-21) finally broke through in the fifth inning with Sawyer out of the game. Jamie Sepsick and Bree Urban each delivered RBI-singles to trim the deficit to 8-2 on reliver Abigail Lindsey. State College of Florida added two more runs in the sixth on Urban's two-run single after a Jones throwing error extended the inning.
Morgan Landry entered in relief during the fifth and settled things down, finishing the final three innings to earn her second save of the season. Landry struck out three and allowed just one earned run.
Jones totaled 11 hits in the win, led by Tate's 2-for-4, three-RBI performance. James added two hits and two RBIs, while Sawyer helped herself at the plate with two hits and an RBI. Andersen scored twice and finished 2-for-2 with a double.
Sawyer improved to 20-2 on the season with the win, the first Bobcat pitcher to eclipse the 20-win plateau since 2019.
SCF starter Dava Hoffer took the loss after surrendering eight runs in 1.1 innings.
Live video for Thursday's game can be accessed at NJCAA.org/network ($) and live stats are also available through the NJCAA website.
