ELLISVILLE – Third-ranked Jones College posted a pair of big wins over Meridian Community College here Wednesday afternoon at Community Bank Park.
Jones used a five-run second inning and went on to beat the Eagles 9-3 in game one. In game two, Jones had a 10-run fourth inning and crushed MCC, 20-2 in five innings.
The Lady Bobcats, 37-6 overall and 21-3 in the MACJC, will end the regular season next week. Jones hosts Southwest in a 4/6 p.m. doubleheader on "Sophomore Day" on April 30. They go to East Mississippi for a 4 p.m. doubleheader on May 3 and the MACJC Tournament will be May 8-11 at the site of the regular season champion.
Currently, Jones is 21-3 in the league with Mississippi Gulf Coast and Itawamba both at 17-3.
Meridian falls to 19-15 and 12-10. MCC hosts Coahoma on Saturday.
No. 3 Jones 9, Meridian 3
After Hallie Donald (Mooreville) and Raven Blackwell (St. Patrick) drew walks to start the second inning, LP Trammell (Germantown) blasted a three-run home run to give Jones a 5-0 lead. Trammell now has 18 home runs, which leads the state and is tied for second in NJCAA Division II.
Kayla Collins (East Central) then doubled and McKennah Sikes (Van Buren, Arkansas) hit a two-run home run to put Jones up 7-0. Sikes has 15 home runs on the year, which ties her for fifth nationally.
Donald pitched all seven innings and got the win. She allowed three runs (one earned), six hits, walked two and struck out seven. Donald is 21-1, which is second in the nation in wins.
Rebekah DiLavore (Ocala, Florida) homered and singled for Jones. Trammell and Sikes homered, Collins doubled and Faith Denton (Northwest Rankin) and Raven Blackwell added singles.
Keirra Fair doubled and singled twice for Meridian. Alyssa Branyan, Jaelynn Palmer and Taylor Perilloux added singles.
Kaitlyn Parrish went the first 1.1 innings and got the loss. She allowed seven runs (six earned), four hits, walked three and struck out two. Hayleigh Rogers pitched the final 4.2 innings, giving up two runs, three hits and three walks.
Jones led 2-0 after one, 7-0 after two, 7-2 after three and 9-2 after six.
No. 3 Jones 20, Meridian 2
(5 innings)
Gracie McCleskey's (Caledonia) three-run home run capped the fourth inning outburst.
McCleskey ended the game with a home run, two singles and four RBIs.
Trammell had a double and a single with DiLavore and Denton getting home runs. DiLavore has eight home runs on the season. Jesse Smith (Seminary) tripled, Raven Blackwell doubled with Sikes, Haley Hanson (Jackson Prep) and Hailey Weems (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) adding singles.
Lauren Stringer (Taylorsville) posted the victory, improving to 12-4. She went four innings, giving up two runs, three hits, one walks and recording six strikeouts. Marley Peagler (Brandon) pitched a perfect fifth inning.
Branyan and McKinley Allen doubled with Miracle Crosby getting a single.
Rogers started, went 3.0 innings and got the loss. She allowed 10 runs (five earned), five hits and walked six. Branyan pitched to six batters and did not record an out. She gave up six runs, four hits and walked two. Parrish went the final inning, giving up four runs, three hits, a walk and had a strikeout.
Jones led 3-0 after one inning, 6-0 after two and 10-2 after three.
Shawn Wansley, Jones College Sports Information