The Bobcats of Jones College took home the win after beating the Coastal Alabama Coyotes 7-2.
The Coyotes started the game hot, with the first two hitters racking up hits. Then, the Coyotes scored a run on a balk by Bobcat hurler Trent Hillen. The Coyotes would stretch their lead to 2-0 after first basemen Cayden Evens hit an RBI ground out.
Before the Bobcat shortstop and leadoff hitter Colton Hegwood could touch his bat, Jones was down 2-0. Then, the Bobcats restored order in the bottom of the first inning. The Bobcat centerfielder Gatlin Sanders’ RBI single cut the Coyote lead in half to a score of 2-1. A big two out double by Jones first baseman Brady Thomas tied the game at 2 apiece. Cole Manuel would soon trade places with Brady Thomas by doubling in the right-center field gap that would plate Thomas to make it a 3-2 Bobcat lead.
The Bobcat starting pitcher Trent Hillen brought a 1.88 earned run average into the game. Despite having a rough couple of innings to start his game, Hillen pitched to his resume with 5 innings and struck out 6 while allowing just 4 hits and 2 runs. The Coyotes did not achieve a hit past the second inning. Trent Hillen ended the day as the winning pitcher, upping his record to 2-0.
Four runs later, the Bobcats took home a 7-2 win. Jones finished their 10 game homestand with a 9-1 record at The Bank, and an 11-1 record on the season.
The Bobcat hitters had a solid day. Colton Hegwood had two hits in his four at bats with an RBI. Evan Rogers hit safely in three of his four at bats with an RBI. Rogers, the redshirt freshman from Flowood, leads the team in just about every offensive category. The second baseman is hitting .429 with 16 RBI’s in just 12 games. Gatlin Sanders garnered two RBI’s to up his season total to 9.
The Bobcats will be back in Ellisville on March 1 to play two games against Illinois Central College. The first pitch is scheduled at 3 p.m.
Ollie Hammonds
