ENID, Okla. – A memorable postseason run for the Jones College baseball team came to an end Monday afternoon as Iowa Central defeated the Bobcats 7-1 in an elimination game at the NJCAA Division II World Series at David Allen Ballpark.
Jones closed the season 41-18 after advancing to the national tournament for the first time since 2016 and winning its first region title in a decade.
Iowa Central (51-11) struck first and never relinquished control, getting a leadoff solo home run from Jack Ratcliffe in the bottom of the first inning off Jones starter Brayson Graham.
The Tritons added three more runs in the second inning, capitalizing on a pair of Bobcat miscues. After Ben Jones singled and Wyatt Myers and Will Specht drew walks to load the bases, Ratcliffe delivered again with an RBI walk during a chaotic sequence that also saw two runs score on a throwing error by the catcher. Specht later crossed the plate on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 4-0.
Jones threatened several times against Iowa Central starter Carter Giesen but could not deliver the timely hit. The Bobcats stranded 11 runners and hit into a pair of inning-ending double plays.
The Bobcats put together one of their best opportunities in the fourth inning when Dylan Champagne and Talan Theriot recorded back-to-back singles with one out, but Iowa Central turned a double play off the bat of Gage Reeves to escape the jam.
Iowa Central stretched the lead to 5-0 in the fourth after Wyatt Myers doubled and eventually scored on an error following a single by Specht.
MACCC Pitcher of the Year Trevor Hodges settled things down in relief for Jones, tossing five innings and allowing just two runs — both unearned — while striking out four.
Jones finally broke through in the eighth inning. Chase Russell walked and moved to second on a wild pitch before advancing to third on a groundout. Reeves then lined an RBI-single to score Russell and cut the deficit to 5-1.
The Tritons answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. An error allowed Ben Jones to reach before Myers doubled and Specht followed with an RBI single. Sam Sejnoha later added a sacrifice fly to provide the final margin.
Jones mounted one final threat in the ninth when Kelan Guidry walked and Eli Wheat singled to put two aboard with one out, but Iowa Central reliever Sean Stewart retired the final two batters to end the game.
Champagne and Wheat each collected two hits to lead the Bobcats offensively, while Russell, Sanders Ainsworth, Theriot and Reeves added one hit apiece. Reeves drove in Jones' lone run.
Graham (5-3) suffered the loss after allowing five runs, three earned, over three innings.
Ratcliffe paced Iowa Central with two RBIs, while Myers scored three runs and Specht finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Giesen earned the win after limiting Jones to one run over eight strong innings.
