SOUTHAVEN – Playing at Southaven High School due to wet field conditions in Senatobia, the Northwest softball team swept a doubleheader over Jackson State CC on Thursday afternoon by 7-6 and 10-2 scores.
Northwest won its third consecutive game after dropping its season-opener to improve to 3-1 overall.
In the opener, freshman Lindsey Shaw allowed just one run off three hits in relief of starter Casey Baddley, tossing the final four innings and keeping Northwest in striking distance.
Trailing 6-2 in the sixth, Northwest rallied for four runs in the inning to tie the game. A leadoff single for Carlie Jenkins started the rally before a hit-by-pitch and back-to-back singles from Shaw and Anna Barham plated a pair. Malea Dillon pulled the game within a run on a fielder's choice and then Barham came around to score on an infield error to knot it at 6-6.
Shaw (1-0) then pitched a perfect seventh that setup the thrilling 7-6 come-from-behind win.
Jenkins led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, advanced to second on a passed ball and then scored off a throwing error from the catcher for the winning run.
Northwest out-hit JSCC 12-10 in the game, led by Vicki Johnson who went 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot.
Clearly carrying all the momentum from a huge rally in game one, Northwest rolled over the Lady Generals in game two with a 10-2 victory in five innings.
Trailing 1-0 in the third, Northwest exploded for seven runs off seven hits to blow the game open.
The first seven batters of the inning reached base safely, with Roxanna Kimes and Baddley driving in runs off RBI-singles and Dee Alvarez smashing a three-run triple down the rightfield line.
The Rangers added three more in the fourth to close out the run-rule win.
Kimes (2-0) tossed her second straight complete game to start her career, allowing two runs off six hits and striking out three, while nine different Rangers picked up a hit in the win.
Northwest returns to the field next Wednesday, March 6 against Southwest Tennessee. First pitch of the doubleheader, weather permitting, is set for 1 p.m. in Senatobia.
