Co-Lin earns split with Jones College

WESSON – The Co-Lin Wolves split a doubleheader with No. 12 Jones College Bobcats dropping the opener 11-7 and winning game two 7-6.

GAME 1

Jones took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning as Murray Hutchinson singled, stole second, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch.

The Bobcats added to their lead in the top of the third inning when Preston Ratliff doubled in Deejay Booth who tripled.

Co-Lin tied the game at 2-all in the bottom of the third as catcher Cade Lowery (Wesson/Wesson Attendance Center) and first baseman Kenner Bizot (Wesson/Wesson Attendance Center) hit back-to-back solo home runs.

Jones added three runs in the top of the fourth aided by five walks. The Wolves would answer with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Hunter Richardson (Brookhaven/Jones College) led off the inning with a solo home run to left field to close the Jones lead to 5-3. With one out, Hunter Estes (Purvis/Lamar Christian) singled, Lowery drew a walk and Bizot singled to load the bases. Estes stole home and the runners advanced. Will-Lawson Harkins (Carthage/ Leake Academy) fly ball to right field allowed Lowery to tie the game at 5-all. The Wolves took their first lead of the game at 6-5 as Bizot scored on a passed ball.

The Bobcats would take the lead for good with five runs in the fifth inning. Hutchinson singled to drive in Brady Spring who singled. Hunter French's RBI single would plate Garrett Clendenning who doubled. Booth's fly ball to right field would plate Hutchinson. An error by the left fielder would plate two more runs for Jones as their lead increased to 10-6. The Bobcats would add another run in the top of the sixth as Spring would score on Clendenning's fly ball to left.

Co-Lin right fielder Marques Hudson (Monticello/Lawrence County High School) would lead off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to left field and that would complete the scoring for the game.

Colby Tubre would pick up the win for the Bobcats. He would allow one run on three hits, walk four, and strikeout four. Ratliff started the game and lasted three innings, allowing three runs on four hits, striking out six and walking none. Jake Zaetta followed Ratliff giving up two runs on one hit and walking one in .1 inning of work. Andrew Nix threw 1.1 innings striking out two and walking two. Garrett Langrell would pick up the save pitching .2 innings striking out one.

For the Wolves, reliever Lance Elsen (Madison/Canton Academy) would absorb the loss allowing three runs on three hits in .1 inning of work. Starter Caleb Rutledge (Calhoun, LA/West Ouachita High School) allow five runs (three earned) on five hits, walked six and struck out four in 3.2 innings. Tucker Jones (Pearl/Pearl High School) threw 4.2 innings allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits and striking out five. Sevante Quinn (Brookhaven/Brookhaven High School) would also see action in relief.

At the plate for Co-Lin, Bizot led the way going 3-for-5 with a home run and a pair of singles. Hudson, Lowery, and Richardson homered. Adding support with a hit apiece were Tom Biggs (Columbia, LA/West Monroe High School), Estes, and Ben White (Natchez/Cathedral High School).

For Jones, Booth led the way with a double and a triple. Hutchinson, Ratliff would have multiple hits. French, Johnson, Spring and Clendenning would add support with a hit apiece.

GAME 2

Co-Lin would strike first with a six run second inning. Richardson would reach on a two-base error by the third baseman. Braydon Muse was hit by a pitch. Bizot's RBI single to right field would plate Richardson and give the Wolves a 1-0 lead. Aiden Singley, Wade Nichols, and Biggs, had RBI singles to push the Co-Lin lead to 4-0. Peyton Parker's fly ball to center would plate Harkins and Hudson's single to center would give the Wolves a 6-0 lead.

The Bobcats plated a run in the top of the third inning. In the bottom of the inning, Braydon Muse would hit a solo home run to center field to put Co-Lin 7-1.

Jones would add a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning to close the Co-Lin lead to 7-3.

The Bobcats would threaten in the top of the seventh inning. With no outs, Ratliff smashed a three-run home run to left field to close the Co-Lin lead to 7-6. Peyton Parker would come in the game to relieve Rhett Blackburn. He got Johnson to fly out to center field but would hit Spring to put the tying run on base. Parker was able to get Colson Harris to hit into a double play to end the game.

Co-Lin starter Jacob Spinks (2-1) would pick up the win allowing three runs on six hits, walking three and striking out two. Peyton Parker with get his second save of the season. Also seeing action on the mound were Micah Parker (1.1 innings, one walk, one strikeout) and Blackburn (.1 inning, three runs, two hits, one walk).

Dylan Fontan (2.0) took the loss for Jones. He allowed six runs (two earned) on five hits, walked one and struck out one. Also seeing action for the Bobcats, Adam Bassett (one inning, one run, two hits, one strikeout), and Kade Keeton (three innings, four strikeouts).

Leading the Wolves at the plate was Bizot with a pair of hits. Muse homered. Harkins, Biggs, Hudson, and Singley added support with a hit apiece.

For Jones, Hutchison, Booth, Harris and Ratliff had two hits apiece.

NEXT UP: Co-Lin (3-5) travels to Mississippi Gulf Coast on Tuesday for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.