Jones splits doubleheader at Coastal Alabama-South, wins game one in slugfest

Bay Minette, Ala. — No. 2 Jones University split a doubleheader against Coastal Alabama-South on Wednesday afternoon. The Bobcats won the opener 12-9 in a high-scoring affair and lost the nightcap 5-4 in walk-off fashion.

Playing just its third and fourth true road games, Jones has now been away from home for 13 straight games. The team will conclude a 17-game away streak Sunday at No. 5 LSU Eunice. The Bobcats improved to 18-3 overall with the split, while Coastal Alabama-South moved to 10-6.

In the first game, Jones scored eight runs in the second inning and appeared headed for a run-rule victory in the sixth, leading 12-3. The team held on in the bottom of the seventh as Coastal Alabama-South threatened with the tying run at the plate.

Laney Little doubled twice, knocking in two runs, in the second inning. Chloe Jenkins, Mary Kimble Price, and Madison Sawyer each contributed RBI singles, with Sawyer adding her first collegiate home run, a three-run shot. Brooke Cooper homered for Coastal Alabama-South in the bottom half, and Charlotte Lottinger hit a two-run homer in the third to cut the lead to 8-3. Addy Shorter hit a three-run homer in the sixth to make it 12-6, but the Coyotes responded with six runs in the bottom of the sixth, sparked by five singles and two errors.

With the tying run at the plate in the seventh, Morgan Landry entered as a reliever and induced a strikeout and a double play to secure the win. Sawyer improved to 7-0, allowing five runs on 10 hits in 5.1 innings, while Landry earned her first collegiate save. The Coyotes totaled 15 hits, and Jones finished with 18.

In the second game, Coastal Alabama-South jumped ahead early. Jenkins’ two-run single gave Jones a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the Coyotes scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Eason’s solo homer in the first provided the first run for Jones. Brianna Ryan’s RBI-single in the bottom half made it 3-1, and Mary Kimble Price’s fielder’s choice extended the lead to 4-1 in the third.

The Coyotes managed just one hit over the final four innings but chipped away. They scored a solo homer in the third and rallied in the final inning with back-to-back singles, a sacrifice fly, and a pinch-hit single just over Landry’s head to walk off with the win. Jones was held to one hit after the third inning.

Coastal Alabama-South improved to 5-1 in the second game, while Jones fell to 18-4 overall.

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