Jays advance to Class 5 baseball quarterfinals

JOPLIN, Mo. - One to go.

The Jefferson City Jays are a win away from a trip to the Class 5 Final Four after defeating Willard 5-2 in baseball sectional action Wednesday at Missouri Southern.

The Jays (26-6, ranked No. 4) can pick up that victory today as they take on the Nixa Eagles (15-18) in the quarterfinals in Ozark. The game, scheduled for 4 p.m., will be played at U.S. Baseball Park, formerly known as Price Cutter Field.

After Willard got on the board with a run in the bottom of the first inning, Jefferson City took the lead with two in its half of the third.

Hayden Hirschvogel and Blaine Meier drew one-out walks before moving to second and third on a groundout. JT Bohlken then singled to drive in two runs.

Willard (23-11) tied it at 2 in the bottom of the third before Jefferson City regained the lead with a run in the top of the sixth.

Kade Franks was hit by a pitch to start the inning and was sacrificed to second by Brandon Williams.

Tyler Bise singled to put runners at first and third before Hirschvogel drove in what turned out be the game-winner on a fielder's choice.

Jefferson City picked up two insurance runs in the seventh.

Jacob Weirich led off with a single and moved to second when Bohlken was hit by a pitch. Grant Wood then hit into a fielder's choice and the Jays had runners at first and third.

Weirich scored on a passed ball to make it 4-2. Gaven Strobel then walked before a single by Franks brought home the game's final run.

Weirich and Franks had two hits in a six-hit Jefferson City attack.

Bohlken went the distance to get the victory, scattering nine hits and two walks while recording three strikeouts.

The Class 5 Final Four will be played June 2-3 in O'Fallon.