GULF SHORES, Alabama – The top-rated Jones College Lady Bobcats began the 2019 season with a split here Friday in the Sun Chief Classic.

Hallie Donald (Mooreville) threw a complete game and drove in three runs as Jones beat Walters State (Tennessee) 8-2 in its first game of the year. Wallace State-Hanceville (Alabama), rated No. 13 in NJCAA Division I, then rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning and defeated Jones 8-6 in eight innings in the next game.

The Lady Bobcats, 1-1, face Motlow State (Tennessee) at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by No. 6 Illinois Central at 11:15 a.m. to conclude play in the tournament.

Jones will make its home debut on Feb. 22 at Community Bank Park/Gwen Magee Field. Jones meets Coastal Alabama-South at 2 p.m., Southwest plays Coastal Alabama-South at 4 p.m. and Jones hosts Southwest at 6 p.m.

Jones College 8, Walters St. (Tennessee) 2

McKennah Sikes (Van Buren, Arkansas) doubled, singled twice and drove in a pair of runs with Faith Denton (Northwest Rankin) getting three singles. 

Donald double, singled and had three runs driven in and Raven Blackwell (St. Patrick) had a two-run double. Mollie Singleterry (Wayne County) added a single.

Donald allowed no earned runs, eight hits, walked three and struck out four.

Mia Edwardson and Jenica Brown each singled twice for Walters State with Lauren Brickey, Sydney Dukes, Keeley Quillen and Emily Whitaker adding singles.

Delilah Malczewski went 2.2 innings as the starter, allowing five runs on six hits. Raylon Smith pitched the final 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits.

The Lady Bobcats led 2-0 after two innings, 5-0 after four and 6-0 after six.

Wallace State (Alabama) 8, Jones College 6

(8 innings)

Trailing 4-3 going into the top of the seventh inning, the Lions pushed across a run to tie it.

Wallace State took advantage of an error to go along with a pair of singles and scored four runs in the top of the eighth.

In the bottom of the eighth, Jones got a two-run home run from Sikes, which scored LP Trammell (Germantown). With two outs, Hailey Weems (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) singled, but a fielder's choice ended the game.

Sikes homered twice, singled and drove in three runs with Gracie McCleskey (Caledonia) homering and singling twice. 

Weems had two singles with Raylen Blackwell (St. Patrick) getting a double. Donald and Rebekah DiLavore (Ocala, Florida) added singles.

Starter Marley Peagler (Brandon) went 5.2 innings, allowed three runs, six hits, walked two and struck out one. Lauren Stringer (Taylorsville) pitched two innings, allowed four runs (one earned), four hits and took the loss.

Addie Robertson homered and singled with Kellie Bobbitt getting a triple and a single. Alysia Anderson had a pair of singles. Kalynn Holcomb homered with Callie Ryan, Kaley Anthony and Sydney McKissick adding singles.

Starter Mabry Norris went 4.2 innings and allowed four runs on six hits. Meagan Schweiterman went the final 3.1 innings and got the win, allowing one runs on five hits.

Jones led 2-0 after one inning, 2-1 after two, 4-1 after three, 4-2 after four and 4-3 after five.