Colby Jones Powers NWF Past Shelton State with Two Homers and Seven RBIs in 13-4 Win

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colby Jones blasted two home runs and drove in seven to lead Northwest Florida State to a 13-4 victory over Shelton State on Monday. Jones homered in both the third and fourth innings.

Jones has been on a tear this tournament. The sophomore infielder already has 11 RBIs on five hits, including three home runs in Grand Junction. His 2-for-4, seven RBI performance today comes after a 3-for-5, four RBI game last night, where he also drove in three runs off a home run in the sixth.

Alex Walsh earned the win on the mound for the Raiders, allowing six hits and four runs (three earned) over seven innings, striking out five and walking four. Wilkins took the loss for the Bucs, pitching two and two-thirds innings, conceding five runs on three hits, with no strikeouts and no walks.

Shelton State opened the scoring in the top of the first with back-to-back solo home runs, putting them ahead by two. The Bucs added another run in the second inning when Helms singled on an 0-2 count, extending the lead to 3-0.

However, the Raiders turned the game completely upside down in the bottom of the third, scoring six runs on four hits to take a 6-3 lead. The highlight of the inning was a grand slam to left field by Jones on a full count, driving in four runs. Brock Tapper later droves in another pair after sending a pitch off the leftfield wall, legging out a two-out double.

The Raiders offense picked up right where they left off the third and added four more runs in the fourth, making it a 10-3 game. An error brought in one run, followed by Jones' three-run homer to left field, giving him his second long ball of the day and seventh RBI.

Shelton State's Dutton hit a solo home run to right field in the top of the fifth, shortening their deficit to six. However, the Raiders continued to pile on in the fifth and sixth, scoring three more runs, eventually giving them the run-rule victory with a final score of 13-4.

The Raiders tallied ten hits in the game, with Jones, Chase Williams, and Brock Tapper each collecting two hits. Helms went 2-for-4 at the plate for Shelton State, leading the team with two RBIs. Dutton led Shelton State with three hits in four at-bats.

This marks the Raiders' second consecutive elimination game victory, moving them along in the bracket. The Raiders will play again tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. (CDT) against the loser of tonight's nightcap between one-seed Johnson County and four-seed Georgia Highlands, which is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. (CDT).