Topher Jones' walk-off sends No. 2 Pearl River to World Series semifinal

Dylan Dunaway - PRCC Sports Information

ENID, Okla. — "I believe in you, one, I believe," echoed from the Wildcat dugout as Topher Jones (Hernando) stepped up to the plate in the biggest at-bat of his collegiate career.

Deadlocked at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth, Jones shuffled into the box in a 2-2 count, needing one big swing to end a tumultuous game between the No. 2 Pearl River and in-state foe No. 6 East Central. With Max Miller's (Vancleave) belief in the back of his mind, Jones sliced a ball down the right field line to bring the winning run in from first base for a walk-off RBI double and a 7-6 victory.

Jacob Keys (Brandon) raises his arms in celebration after scoring the game-winning run that send Pearl River to the NJCAA Division II World Series Semifinal (Richard Gleber).

"That was the craziest thing that has ever happened to me," Jones said. "I was nervous, but the person I always hear from the dugout is Max Miller. He told me he believed in me, and that's all I needed — if these guys believe in me, then I believe in myself."

The win sends the Wildcats to the NJCAA Division II World Series Semifinal. They will take on the winner of No. 6 East Central and No. 7 Southeastern Thursday at 7 p.m.

"We knew it was going to be a dogfight. They kept battling, and we kept battling," head coach Michael Avalon said. "We made one more play than them. They're a great club and are tough. I was proud of how tough our team was tonight.

"That tells everyone in the country how tough our conference and Region 23 is. If you watched this game on the biggest stage, you understand why people say it's the toughest in the country. Games like this are every night."

Although the Wildcats (52-8 overall) took an early 1-0 lead on a first-inning RBI single by Caston Thompson (Jayess; Brookhaven Academy), East Central (44-15) responded with a four-spot in the top of the second inning to push ahead, 4-1. The Wildcats were forced into a pitching change in the inning, and Miller closed things out without further damage.

The left-handed pitcher was lights-out in the third and fourth innings, tallying five strikeouts across two scoreless frames. PRCC saw its first set of heroics in the bottom of the fourth, and it was by Jones. The freshman ambushed a pitch, sending a line drive the opposite way and over the wall for a two-run homer, 4-3. Jaxon Milam (Phenix City, Ala.; Glenwood Academy) kept the rally going by turning a single into a double and scoring on a clutch swing from Jackson Hood (Madison; Germantown), 4-4.

Miller's dominance continued in the fifth and sixth, allowing just one batter to reach. The seventh frame was when the drama started to build. East Central turned a leadoff walk into an RBI single, and PRCC responded in the bottom half with Thompson bashing a ball up the middle for an RBI single, 5-5.

In the eighth, the leadoff Warrior batter hit a solo home run over the right field wall to move back ahead, 6-5. Again, Pearl River had a response. With Hood on third base, there was a dropped third strike at the plate. The freshman waited to see the catcher's decision, and as soon as the throw was unleashed, he dashed for the plate. The throw home was too late as Hood slid feet first with the tying run, 6-6.

Carson Fair (Southaven) did his job in the top of the ninth, working around a leadoff hit by a pitch to keep ECCC off the board. Jones' clutch factor showed itself again in the final inning of the night, turning Jacob Keys' (Brandon) leadoff walk into a walk-off RBI double, 7-6.

Hood finished 3-for-4 in the game with one RBI and one run scored. Giger, Thompson and Jones each had two hits apiece. Jones led the way with three RBIs, and Thompson had a pair. Giger also walked twice.

Jacob Johnson (Carriere; Pearl River Central) tossed the first 1 2/3 innings before Miller fired 4 2/3 innings of one-run baseball. He allowed three hits and two walks and struck out six. Peyton Lacy (Pass Christian) threw well in an inning of work, allowing one run on one hit and one walk. He had three strikeouts. Fair earned the win with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. He had two punchouts.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are $15 per day or $75 for an all-tournament pass. Ages 7 and under are free. Tickets are $15 per day or $75 for an all-tournament pass. Ages 7 and under are free. They can be purchased at the gate.

HOW TO WATCH / LISTEN

The entirety of the 2025 NJCAA DII World Series will be broadcast live on the NJCAA Network at NJCAA.org/network. A Day Pass is $12, a Tournament Pass is $35 and a Championship Game Pass is $5.

The games will also be broadcast live on WRJW FM 106.9 / 1320 AM and at WRJWRadio.com listen live, and the WRJW app.