SCOOBA, Miss. — No. 2 Jones College and East Mississippi played a nearly eight-hour doubleheader Saturday at Gerald Poole Field. Jones edged EMCC 20-19 in the first game, then lost 6-5 in eight innings in the nightcap.
In the opener, neither team led by more than a few runs. East Mississippi jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the second inning behind a three-run homer from Ty Wiggins and a two-RBI single from Jonas Coleman. Jones responded with a four-run third, highlighted by a three-run homer from Warren Hutchinson, to make it 6-5.
The game turned into a slugfest, with EMCC leading 11-6 after four innings. Jones scored five runs in the sixth to take a 14-12 lead and added five more in the seventh to push the score to 19-14. East Mississippi scored four unearned runs in the bottom half to close within 19-18. Braxton Whiteside’s RBI-single tied the game at 19-19 after eight innings. Dylan Champagne’s RBI-single in the ninth provided the go-ahead run, and Trevor Hodges retired EMCC in order to earn the win, his seventh of the season.
Sanders Ainsworth went 6-for-7 with three doubles and three RBIs, while Gage Reeves had four hits and scored four runs. Jones used seven pitchers, issuing 13 walks and six hit-by-pitches. Hodges pitched two scoreless innings to earn the victory.
The nightcap saw Jones jump to a 5-0 lead after four and a half innings, fueled by timely hitting and wild pitches, including Champagne’s solo homer. EMCC chipped away, with Hunter Russell’s RBI-single in the fifth. A four-run sixth inning tied the game at 5-5, but miscommunication in the outfield allowed EMCC to tie the game on a pop-up that hit the turf.
Jones loaded the bases in the seventh but failed to score. EMCC completed the comeback in the eighth on a walk-off single from Miles Mitchell. Bobcat pitchers issued 30 free passes in the doubleheader, including 20 walks and 10 hit-by-pitches, according to sources.
The teams will meet again Tuesday in Meridian for a doubleheader scheduled for 3 p.m.
