Eighth-rated Jones College split a doubleheader here Tuesday vs. Southwest.
The Bobcats took advantage of 15 walks and received a stellar relief effort from Eli Walker (Gulfport) and won the opener, 13-7. In game two, the Bobcats wasted an excellent start from Drew Druckenmiller (Mobile, Alabama) and dropped a 3-2 decision in eight innings.
Jones is now 27-7 overall and still leads the MACCC at 12-2. The Bobcats are scheduled to travel to Northwest for a 2 p.m. Friday doubleheader.
Southwest, 15-22 overall and 5-11 in the league, hosts Holmes on Thursday.
Jones 13, Southwest 7
The Bobcats took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first with Jakob Wax (Prairieville, Louisiana) driving in a run with a sacrifice fly and Gatlin Sanders (Madison Central) scoring on the front end of a double steal.
After Southwest tied it at 2-2, the Bobcats regained the lead for good in the second. Josh Cary (Petal) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to put Jones ahead, Marquette Gibson (D’Iberville) followed with a bases loaded walk, Sanders was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Beau Bryans (Madison Central) walked with the bases loaded to force in another run and make it 6-2.
The Bobcats made it 9-3 in the third with Gibson driving in a run with a sacrifice fly, Hays Carley (Columbia Academy) walking with the bases loaded and Brice Deaton (Pontotoc) driving in a run with a groundout.
A Bryans’ RBI double in the fifth made it 10-5.
The Bears made it 10-7 in the sixth before Jones added three more runs in the seventh to close it out. Wax had an RBI double and later scored on a passed ball and Deaton was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score another run.
Walker tossed the final 3.2 innings and was credited with the win to go to 3-0. He allowed no runs, two hits, walked one and struck out one.
Gibson and Peyton Bell (Mobile, Alabama) each singled twice for Jones. Bryans and Wax doubled with Chase Honeycutt (DeSoto Central) and Carley adding singles.
Christian Kell had two singles and three RBIs for Southwest.
Starter Matthew Bienvenu went 1.0 innings, allowed six runs (five earned), two hits, walked four, hit one, struck out one and took the loss.
Southwest 3, Jones 2
8 inn.
The Bears led 1-0 after one inning, but the Bobcats tied it in the second when Carley doubled to center to score Bell.
It stayed that way until the eighth.
Gibson led off with a single, stole second and scored on a Wax double to put the Bobcats ahead, 2-1.
In the bottom of the eighth, Tyler Otts reached on an error and Brett Boutwell had an infield single. A walk to Marcus Jacks loaded the bases with no outs. A wild pitch scored Otts to tie the game at 2-2.
With two outs, Kell reached on an error which allowed Boutwell to score the winning run.
Druckenmiller went 7-plus innings, allowed three runs (one earned), six hits, walked none and struck out seven. He took the tough-luck loss, dropping to 3-2. Luke Lycette (Northwest Rankin) pitched .2 innings, allowed no hits, two walks and struck out one.
Wax, Bell and Carley each doubled for Jones with Gibson and Sanders adding singles.
Starter Brycen Smith went 7.0 innings for the Bears, allowed one run (none earned), three hits, three walks and eight strikeouts. Braiden Jones went the final inning and got the win. He gave up one run, two hits and struck out one.
Otts singled twice to lead the Bears offensively.
