ELLISVILLE — Sixth-ranked Jones College continued its dominance over Mississippi Gulf Coast in softball Tuesday, winning both games of a doubleheader. The Bobcats defeated the Bulldogs 10-2 in five innings and 5-4 to extend their winning streak over Gulf Coast to 27 of the past 31 meetings since 2016.
In the opener, Jones scored six runs in the first inning and rolled to a run-rule victory. Gulf Coast’s Lexi Patterson hit a solo homer in the first, but Jones responded with a three-run blast from Mabry Eason. The Bobcats added three more runs in the first inning on an RBI-single from Reagan Dale, an RBI-single from Laney Little, and a sacrifice fly from Chloe Jenkins to take a commanding lead.
Madison Sawyer earned the win, allowing four hits and two runs over five innings with five strikeouts. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate. Gulf Coast starter Gabby Smith struggled early, recording just one out and giving up six runs, before Breyona Tanner finished the game.
In the nightcap, Jones rallied from behind to win. Eason opened with her 16th homer of the season, and Dampeer’s double in the second inning scored Dale for a 2-0 lead. Gulf Coast answered with a three-run rally in the third, highlighted by Patterson’s double that cleared the bases. Price tied the game with her 13th homer in the third, but Gulf Coast regained the lead with Tullos’s homer in the fourth.
The decisive moment came in the sixth when Little hit a clutch RBI-double to tie the game. She later scored on a passed ball, giving Jones a 5-4 lead. Little finished 3-for-3 with a double and the winning run. Dampeer added two hits and an RBI. Breelyn Cain pitched all seven innings, allowing eight hits and four runs to earn the win. McKenzie Smith took the loss for Gulf Coast.
Jones returns to action Tuesday, April 7, against Copiah-Lincoln. Games against Coahoma, scheduled for Friday, April 3, have been moved to Thursday, April 9.
