Juco Baseball Roundup — JCJC stuns No. 30 MCC twice

from combined reports

ELLISVILLE – It was a great way to open the Christian Ostrander Era at Bobcat Field.

Jones County Junior College came from behind in both games to stun defending MACJC state champion and preseason No. 30 Meridian Community College on a cold, but sunny, Wednesday afternoon.

The Bobcats took the opener 6-5 in eight innings and came back to take the nightcap 4-3.

JCJC 6
MCC 5

Adam Burnett’s two-out single to right field in the bottom of the eighth inning scored pinch-runner Chanse Yelverton with the game-winning run.

After Meridian scored a run in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 5, the Bobcats went to work in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, MCC transfer Tyler McMullen doubled to left field and was replaced by Yelverton After Dustin Gilmore popped up to shortstop, Burnett came to the plate.

He singled to short right field, but Ostrander aggressively sent Yelverton all the way from second and the Stringer sophomore scored when the throw bounced away from the catcher.

Bobcat pitchers Zach Toney, Zac Craven and Bryce Penny combined for 13 strikeouts and scattered seven hits between them. Toney went the first four innings, giving up four runs (three earned), four hits, two walks and five strikeouts. Craven went two innings, allowing an unearned run, two hits, five walks and four strikeouts. Penny went the final two innings, giving up one hit and striking out four to get the win.

After the Eagles scored twice in the top of the first inning, the Bobcats came right back to tie it up.

Leadoff batter Chris Lofton reached on an error and took second and third on consecutive passed balls. After Zachary Robertson grounded out, Lofton came home on another passed ball. Tyler Gardner then reached on another error and went to second on the throw. Sam Berry then delivered an RBI single to tie it up at 2-2.

MCC led 3-2 entering the bottom of the third when the Bobcats rallied in the bottom of the frame to take their first lead of the game. Lofton led off with a single to right and took second when Robertson reached on an error. After a pop out, both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Berry then doubled to center to score both runners and give JCJC a 4-3 lead.

The Eagles tied it in the fifth and loaded the bases with one out in the sixth. However, Craven got a strike out and a pop up to end the threat.

Jones went up 5-4 in the sixth. Charlie Hillman led off with an infield single and Colby Dozier came in to pinch-run. McMullen then sacrificed Dozier to second. Gilmore then reached on an infield single. The ball was thrown away, allowing Dozier to score.

MCC loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh and scored just one run to tie it at 5-5. Penny got a pair of strikeouts and a fielder’s choice to prevent further damage.

The Bobcats, who outhit MCC 9-7, got a double, single and three RBIs from Berry, a double and a single from McMullen and two singles from Gilmore. Lofton, Robertson and Gardner added singles.

Eric Callender started, went six innings, gave up five runs (one earned), six hits, walked one and struck out four. Jason Judge went the final 1 2/3 innings and took the loss. He gave up one run on three hits and struck out one.

Wesley Thigpen doubled and singled for MCC, while Corey Dickerson, Jordan King, Brent Tanner, Tyler Vick and Jonathan Pace added singles.

JCJC 4
MCC 3

Jones trailed 3-2 going into the fifth, but tied it with one in the fifth and got the game-winning run in the sixth.

Berry led off the decisive sixth with a single down the left field line and was sacrificed to second by Chase Headrick. McMullen then singled Berry home.

In the top of the seventh, Dickerson led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by King. But, Cory Williams got a ground out and a fly out to end it and set off a celebration by the Bobcat players and fans.

JCJC starting pitcher Colton Ales and Williams combined for 12 strikeouts, giving Bobcat pitchers 25 strikeouts in both games. Ales went 3 1/3 innings, gave up three runs (none earned), four hits, walked three and struck out seven. Williams got the win by going 3 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit, no walks and five strikeouts.

The Bobcats took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Robertson reached on an infield single and Berry walked. Headrick drove them both home with a triple to right-center.

The Eagles came back to score three runs in the third and take a 3-2 lead.

Jones tied it in the fifth when Gilmore led off with a double down the left field line and was sacrificed to third by Burnett. Brock Landry’s bunt single scored Gilmore.

JCJC outhit MCC 7-5 with Headrick getting the triple, Gilmore the double and Lofton, Robertson, Berry, McMullen and Landry adding singles.

Blake Hennington started, went one inning, gave up two earned runs, two hits and recorded two strikeouts. An unidentified MCC player tossed the final five innings, giving up two earned runs, five hits, no walks and six strikeouts.

Dickerson singled twice for the Eagles, while Tanner doubled. King and Pace added singles.

— school reports