SENATOBIA - No. 4 Jones College jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in Wednesday's MACCC opener and No. 21 Northwest gave up four runs in the seventh inning of the nightcap, as the Rangers fell by a pair of 11-7 and 7-4 finals.

Despite the early deficit in the opener, Northwest did battle back and brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. However, the Rangers left the bases loaded with no runs scored and the Bobcats put the game away with a three-run frame in the top of the eighth.

In the finale, Jones College took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning, only for Northwest to respond with a four-run frame in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by a three-run homer by Mason McMillin. However, the lead was short-lived, as the Bobcats responded with a big seventh inning, denying the split for the Rangers.

With the losses, Northwest dropped to 17-6 on the season and 0-2 in the MACCC. Jones College jumped to 16-5 overall and 2-0 in conference play. 

Due to severe weather concerns across the southeast on Saturday, the Rangers will now visit second-ranked Pearl River on Sunday at 2/5 P.M. The Wildcats (20-4, 0-0 MACCC) are riding an eight-game winning streak and currently own an 18-13 all-time series lead against Northwest.

Fans unable to make the trip to Poplarville can watch the game here. Tickets can also be purchased online at prccathletics.com/tickets.


Game 1 - #4 Jones College 11, #21 Northwest 7

A grand slam in the first inning and a two-run homer in the second put Northwest in a 7-0 hole early, but the Rangers clawed back throughout the contest.

Starter Gavin McCoy got into trouble in the top of the first and surrendered a grand slam to left field from Cole Manuel. Things got worse for Northwest in the top of the second, when T.J. Dunsford crushed a two-run bomb to right field, stretching the Bobcats' lead to 6-0.

Jones College tacked on an additional run in the top of the third, when an error allowed Dominick Regira to score from third base. However, Brennan Jones entered the game in relief for Northwest, helping quiet the Bobcats' bats over the next 4.2 innings.

Meanwhile, the Rangers slowly began to form a rally. Walker Sanders sent an RBI-double to right field in the bottom of the fourth, scoring Levi Lang, and McMillin followed with a two-run homer to right field, closing the gap to 7-3.

Dunsford added another run for Jones College in the top of the fifth, but McMillin matched it with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring Sanders and keeping Northwest within an 8-4 margin.

After Gideon Deaton helped navigate the Rangers through a scoreless top of the seventh inning, Northwest showed the most promising effort in the bottom half of the same inning, loading the bases with one out. However, a fielder's choice got the lead runner out at the plate and another fielder's choice resulted in the final out of the frame, as the Bobcats left with no damage done.

From there, Jones College loaded the bases with a leadoff single and back-to-back walks in the top of the eighth, scoring two runs off Gage Reeves' two-run single up the middle. The Bobcats further widened the gap to 11-4, as a fielder's choice allowed Regira to score from third.

Still, Northwest refused to fold. Hallas Lawson plated a run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a double to right center. Trailing 11-5 in the bottom of the ninth, Lang's sac fly and a wild pitch scored two more runs, only for Jones College to end the rally with a strikeout and a fly out to center field.

Six pitchers were used for the Rangers, with McCoy (4-2) being handed the loss after allowing six earned runs in 1.1 frames. Jones was the most effective reliever for Northwest, allowing only one earned run against two strikeouts in 4.2 innings.

Deaton, Jace Robinson, Drew Lamb and Tatum Turner combined to finish the final three innings, with Turner pitching two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.

Both teams combined for 24 base hits, led by 14 from the Bobcats. Chase Russell went 4-for-5 at the plate, followed by two base hits each from Dunsford and Manuel. 

As for Northwest, Lawson, McMillin and Sanders accounted for six of the team's 10 base hits. Seven of the Rangers' base hits were good for extra bases, including six doubles.

Josh Lee (3-0) pitched six innings to earn the victory for Jones College, punching out eight batters with no walks and four earned runs allowed. Brycen Smith went the next two frames, striking out a pair of batters against a walk and an earned run.


Game 2 - #4 Jones College 7, #21 Northwest 4

Just when it seemed like a four-run rally in the sixth would lift Northwest to victory, Jones College countered with a four-run frame of its own in the top of the seventh, snatching a win away from the Rangers.

Scoreless after two complete, the Bobcats scored three runs in the third, as Andrew Marble kept Northwest off the board for five innings. However, the Rangers struck the jackpot in the bottom of the sixth, as Walker Maranto reached base on an error at third. That set up a single through the right side from Meyer Maddox, plating the first of four runs to come for NWCC.

McMillin followed with his second home run of the afternoon, a crushing three-run smash to left field, sending the Rangers ahead 4-3. After issuing a two-out walk, Marble was pulled for Caden Freeman and the inning immediately came to an end, thanks to Sanders' failed stolen base attempt at second.

Needing just three outs to seal the split, Northwest instead hit the leadoff batter and a pair of sacrifice bunts allowed the tying run to score. Hoping to limit the damage with two outs, the Rangers surrendered a single and two bases-loaded walks, pushing the Bobcats' lead to 7-4.

Freeman (1-1) would then close out the seventh for Jones College, finishing with a strikeout in 1.1 relief innings. Marble struck out five and allowed a walk in his 5.2 innings.

Tyler Sullivan (2-1) was handed the loss for Northwest, allowing three earned runs against a pair of strikeouts in 3.2 total innings pitched. Connor McCaslin started the initial three innings on the mound, surrendering two earns runs and a pair of walks against one strikeout.

Four base hits were scattered across the Rangers' lineup, as the Bobcats finished with six, led by a 3-for-3 effort from Brice Ainsworth. Read Full Article