In a scenario similar to one that many kids dream of while playing ball in the backyard, Southwest Mississippi Community College’s Braiden Jones delivered when given the opportunity.
With the bases loaded, the Bears down to their final out and trailing visiting Southeastern Iowa 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jones hit a shot down the third-base line, clearing the bases and giving SMCC the dramatic walk-off double for an 8-7 come-from-behind win.
SMCC trailed 5-0 in the seventh inning, but pulled to within two runs before the game-winning hit.
“All I remember is looking at Coach (Jack) Edmonson and him telling me to act like the infield was in, and punch a ball through a hole.” Jones said. “And I just executed that and helped my team out.”
Playing in their final non-conference home game, the Bears (4-8) never led until the very end of Sunday’s game.
Hits were hard to come by for both teams early on. SMCC starter Braxton Cooksey gave up none through the first four innings of play, while the Bears’ lone hit during that time frame came from Hunter Harrell, who doubled in the second inning.
Even though the Bears got the first hit, the first runs of the game came from the Blackhawks. A sacrifice fly followed by an error during the ensuing at bat resulted in two Southeastern runs.
