ENID, Okla. – Jones College rallied late but could not overcome a big middle-inning surge from Madison College (Wisc.) in an 8-4 loss Sunday morning in the second round of the NJCAA Division II World Series at David Allen Ballpark.
The Bobcats (41-17) now move into an elimination game at 1 p.m. Monday against Iowa Central (50-11), who fell 16-9 in 10 innings to Monroe (N.Y.).
Jones struck first in the opening inning against the Wolfpack when Warren Hutchinson singled and eventually scored on Dylan Champagne's sacrifice fly to center for a 1-0 lead.
Madison answered immediately in the bottom half when Nate Novinska delivered an RBI-single to tie the game at 1-1.
The Wolfpack broke through in the third. Braylen White doubled to start the inning and Madison loaded the bases before Ian Salvesen lined an RBI-single to give Madison the lead. Sam Moses followed with a two-run single to push the advantage to 4-1.
Madison added another run in the fourth when Jonah Roloff grounded out to second to score JJ Wolbert, stretching the lead to 5-1.
Jones had several opportunities to chip away but stranded 12 runners in the contest. The Bobcats left runners in scoring position in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.
Canyon Reeves provided valuable relief for Jones, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out one after replacing starter Drew Lambert (5-3) in the fourth.
The Bobcats finally cut into the deficit in the eighth when Sanders Ainsworth launched a solo home run to left-center to make it 5-2.
Madison answered immediately in the bottom of the inning when Novinska delivered the decisive blow with a three-run double to right-center, extending the lead to 8-2.
Jones mounted one final push in the ninth. Eli Wheat doubled to open the inning before Chase Russell crushed a two-run homer to left, trimming the deficit to 8-4. The Bobcats then loaded the bases with one out, but Madison reliever Chase Baker recorded a strikeout and groundout to end the threat.
Ainsworth led Jones offensively by going 2-for-4 with a homer, while Russell finished with a two-run home run. Wheat added two hits and scored once, and Champagne reached base three times with a hit, two walks and an RBI.
White paced Madison with four hits and three runs scored, while Novinska drove in four runs. Noah Marschke earned the win after allowing two runs over 7.1 innings.
