SENATOBIA – Playing its third doubleheader in as many days, the Northwest softball team earned a north division split with East Mississippi on Thursday afternoon by winning game one 4-2 and dropping the finale 9-2.
Northwest moved to 17-7 overall and 5-5 in the north while EMCC went to 14-14 and 7-3.
Northwest used four doubles in game one, including three in the second inning alone, to take an early 2-0 lead. Lauren Riley led off the inning with a two-bagger and was driven in by Malea Dillon. Anna Barham then doubled two batters later to drive in Dillon.
Abby Roberts' solo shot in the fifth brought EMCC within 2-1 before Northwest responded with two runs in the bottom half to stretch the lead back out to three runs.
Carlie Jenkins, Rachel Kelly and Casey Baddley opened with back-to-back-to-back hits, with Baddley's double scoring a run. Riley would then follow with a sac fly to right to make it 4-1.
A single run in the sixth off a Jade Albritton single made the final 4-2.
Lindsey Shaw, who relieved Baddley after just 1 1/3 innings, improved to 4-1 in the circle, while Baddley re-entered to throw the final 1 2/3 and earn her second save of the season.
Northwest out-hit EMCC 9-8, using two hits apiece from Dillon, Kelly and Jenkins.
Clinging to a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning of game two as Roxanna Kimes and Baddley were combining for a no-hitter, EMCC found the game-tying run and exploded for nine unanswered to run away with the game.
After two quick outs in the fifth, Taylor Hackney reached on a Baddley throwing error and then advanced three consecutive bases off wild pitches to tie the score at 1-1 – a very uncharacteristic display from the sophomore.
From there it was all Lady Lions. The visitors scored four runs off four hits in the sixth and added four more in the seventh for good measure to take a 9-2 victory and earn a split.
EMCC out-hit Northwest 9-3 in the win, with seven different Lady Lions getting at least one.
Northwest closed a very busy week of softball at 7-1 overall and will enjoy a three-day break before returning to the field next Monday, April 1 at Southwest Tennessee.
