ELLISVILLE, Miss. — Sanders Ainsworth hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning, lifting No. 14 Jones College to a 7-5 win over No. 3 East Central in the second game of a doubleheader Monday at Community Bank Park.
The Warriors dominated the opener, 27-6, behind three home runs, including two grand slams. East Central scored seven runs each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to secure the victory.
In the nightcap, Jones trailed 3-0 early but responded with a four-run second inning. Brayson Graham doubled and scored, Ainsworth doubled, and Chesley Rhodes tripled to cut the deficit to 3-2. Kelan Guidry singled to tie the game, and Dylan Champagne drew a bases-loaded walk to put Jones ahead 4-3.
Chase Russell homered for Jones in the fourth, extending the lead to 5-3. East Central tied it in the seventh with a double and forced extra innings. Ainsworth’s walk-off homer in the ninth secured the win for the Bobcats, with Colton Smith pitching the final 1.2 innings for the victory.
Jones pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts in the game. Graham started and allowed two earned runs over two innings; Trevor Hodges pitched 4.1 scoreless innings. Gage Thompson gave up a run in one inning of relief.
East Central’s Brant Melancon and Xavier Myles each doubled, with Melancon hitting the game’s final inning for the Warriors. The Warriors’ offense included three home runs, two of which were grand slams by Jacob Wooten and Will Williams. DeMarkez West added a round-tripper.
East Central, now 1-1, hosts St. Johns River (Fla.) on Thursday. Jones, now 3-1, travels to Baton Rouge for a doubleheader Friday and will host Baton Rouge Community College on Sunday.
