ELLISVILLE — Pearl River Community College faced nationally-ranked Jones County seven times on the softball diamond this season.

The Lady Wildcats season came to an end without a win against the Lady Bobcats.

Homestanding JCJC eliminate PRCC from the Region 23 Tournament here at Community Bank Park Saturday with a 7-1 decision in the tourney semifinals.

The Lady Wildcats finished the year at 28-20 overall, while the host Lady Bobcats improved to 47-2 and moved on top-ranked LSU-Eunice (La.) in the championship Game.

Both JCJC and LSU-E secured berths in the NJCAA National Tournament at Traceway Park in Clinton later this week.

PRCC starter Rachel Hickman of Poplarville High gave up one hit in the first four innings, but JCJC unleashed a six-run effort in the fifth.

In fact, Pearl River seemed primed and ready to take the lead in the bottom of the third when Hannah Holloway of Petal High led off with a walk and moved to third an out later when Allie Flint of Madison Central High bashed a single to right. With runners at first and third, Megan Scronce of Petal High hit into a double play to end the inning.

In the top of the sixth, Jones lead off batter Bailey Stokes drew a walk, moved to second off Reagan Gavin’s sacrifice bunt, and scored when Savannah Lyon cracked an RBI single to center. Lyon wound up at second with her base hit and scored an out later off Kimberly Nilsson’s double to center.

Courtney Warr of Theodore (Ala.) High relieved Hickman at that point and immediately gave up a two-run homer to Tori Dew to make it 4-0 before Lauren Holifield doubled to center, Brittany Seale singled to center, and Makenzie Hawkins followed with an RBI single, winding up at second, to give the Lady Bobcats a five-run lead.

Ashley Hawkins, another Theodore High product, relieved Warr and saw another run cross the plate via a passed ball before retiring Stokes for the final out.

In the bottom of the frame, lead off Hickman struck out, but Holloway answered with a solo homer over the center field fence to make it 6-1. Kaci Lantrip of Terry High followed with a base hit to left field, but JCJC pitcher Samantha Buller retired Flint and Scronce to end the inning.

After a scoreless sixth, the Lady Bobcats scored the game’s final run in the seventh when Dew led off with an up-the-middle single, Karla Santiago drew a walk an out later, Hawkins singled to left to load the bases, and Dew crossed home plate off Stokes sacrifice fly to right before Gavin fouled out.

Pearl River went three up, three down in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Buller (28-1) got the win in going the distance, giving up four hits, striking out four, and walking two, while Hickman (21-10) picked up the loss in her four-and-two-thirds of work. She gave up three hits, struck out one, walking two, and hit a batter, while Warr gave up four hits after facing four batters, and Hawkins went two-and-a-third, giving up two hits and walking two.

Holloway’s solo homer led the Lady Wildcats at the plate, while Flint, Emily Jackson of Theodore (Ala.) High, and Lantrip all had base hits.

Dew paced the Lady Bobcats’ nine-hit attack with a homer run and a single (two RBIs), while Hawkins (one RBI) and Seale had two singles each, Holifield and Wagner both doubled, and Lyon had a base hit (one RBI).