Breelyn Cain’s 14 strikeouts lead Jones to 1-0 win over St. Johns River in NJCAA softball quarterfinals

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Breelyn Cain pitched a dominant complete game, striking out a career-high 14 batters, as Jones College defeated St. Johns River State 1-0 in the NJCAA Division II Softball World Series quarterfinals Friday at Tyger River Park.

The sophomore allowed only two hits and stranded six runners, guiding the Bobcats to their 41st all-time win in the national tournament. Jones (49-11) now advances to face the loser of Saturday’s suspended game between Copiah-Lincoln and Murray State College. That game was tied 21-21 in the bottom of the fifth before suspension, with resumption scheduled for 11 a.m. CST. The Bobcats are then set to play an elimination game no earlier than 3 p.m.

Neither team managed to find much rhythm early in the game, with Cain escaping a bases-loaded jam in the second inning by striking out two batters. Jones finally scored in the bottom of the fourth, when Madison Sawyer doubled and pinch runner Gracie Drinkwine scored on Addy Shorter’s double down the left field line. That proved to be the game’s only run.

Cain finished strong, retiring the side in order in the first, third and seventh innings. She struck out multiple batters in five innings and closed the game with a strikeout of Raven Watson for her 14th punchout. Shorter and Sawyer each contributed doubles for Jones, while Farrah James added a single. Marlee Dampeer reached base twice with walks and stole a base.

Gabrielle Cruz pitched well for St. Johns River, allowing one run on three hits over six innings. Juliet Fogel and Isabel Lewis recorded the Vikings’ only hits of the game. Live coverage of Saturday’s games is available at NJCAA.org/network, with live stats also provided.

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