GOODMAN – Northwest clinched the north's No. 2 seed in next week's MACJC State Tournament on Wednesday afternoon, spoiling Holmes' Sophomore Day with an 11-0 (5 inn.) run-rule win in the opener and completing the sweep with a 3-2 come-from-behind win in the nightcap.
Northwest won the season series 3-1 over Holmes, improving its season record to 28-8-1 overall and 17-5 in the north division. Holmes dropped to 13-29 overall and 11-11 in the division.
After a scoreless first inning in game one, Northwest plated three in the second to take its first lead, using RBI-singles from Vicki Johnson, Stormy Robison and Anna Barham.
The Rangers would bust it wide open in the fourth with a five-run frame, taking an 8-0 lead. Northwest sent 10 batters to the plate and took advantage of a leadoff error, with Lauren Riley's bases-clearing double to right-center with two outs capping the big inning.
Barham's two-run home run in the fifth capped a 3-for-3 day at the plate with three RBIs, while Natalie Smock's RBI-double plated the final run that made it 11-0.
Casey Baddley's (16-1) no-hit bid was broken up with one out in the fourth, closing the game with four strikeouts against no walks. Kelsey Marter took the loss for Holmes, surrendering nine hits and eight runs (one earned) in 3 2/3 innings of work.
Eight different Rangers picked up a hit in the opener, led by three from Barham and two each from Robison, Smock and Riley.
Trailing 2-0 in the fifth inning of game two, Northwest rallied with three runs in the inning to take its only lead, and held on for the win after a crazy ending.
Robison entered in relief of Emily Hatcher in the third and was welcomed to the game by a two-run double from Victoria Hunt, but would close with two, strong innings to eventually earn the win.
Northwest's fifth inning rally all started with a dropped foul ball at first, following with two singles, a double and RBI-walk from Linsey Hebert. After a fielder's choice for the first out, Riley would take one off the elbow that tied the game before Codie Jones reached on an infield error that plated the eventual winning run.
Holmes put the first two runners on in the seventh off Baddley, who entered in the fifth for Robison. With one out and a shallow pop up to right, Jonissa Buchannan was caught in a rundown at third, advanced on an error and was eventually tagged out at the plate by Marlena Ray on a wild, 9-5-2-3 putout.
Robison (3-2) earned the win while Baddley picked up her first collegiate save.
Plummer led all Rangers with three hits in the game, including her 100th career hit on an infield single in the fifth. She's just the second player in school history to hit the milestone (Candice Brasher) and is three hits shy of owning the school's career record.
Northwest will close out the regular season on the road Friday, traveling to East Mississippi (17-22, 11-11) for a 2 p.m. first pitch from Scooba on the Lady Lions' Sophomore Day.
Live stats (follow here) and live video (watch here) will be available from EMCC Softball Field.
