SENATOBIA – Northwest jumped back into MACJC playoff contention on Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep over Mississippi Delta by 11-3 and 10-2 run-rule wins. 

Northwest has now won 16 straight against Delta and improved to 19-7 overall and 7-5 in the north, which is tied with Holmes for the fourth and final spot. Delta dropped to 2-20 overall and 2-10 in the division.

Roommates Lauren Riley and Malea Dillon had big afternoons to pace Northwest to the sweep, with Riley going 5-for-8 with three runs scored and six RBIs and Dillon going 4-for-7 with a home run, five runs scored and two RBIs.

Trailing 3-0 into the fourth inning of game one, Northwest took advantage of back-to-back errors from the Lady Trojans and plated four runs to take its first lead. Riley's two-run single to center plated the first two while Chelsey Gilliam's first collegiate home run – a two-run shot to center – put Northwest on top 4-3.

It was all Northwest after that, as the Rangers scored 11 unanswered over the final three frames.

Anna Barham's RBI-single with the bases loaded provided the walk-off hit in the sixth.

Casey Baddley improved to 6-3 on the year with a complete-game seven-hitter, scattering three runs (two earned) and six strikeouts and needing just 62 pitches.

Eight different players picked up a hit in the run-rule win as Northwest out-hit Delta 10-7. 

Northwest took an early 2-0 lead in game two in its opening at-bat, using RBI-groundouts from Rachel Kelly and Baddley.

But Delta fought back to tie it at 2-2 with single runs in the second and third off an RBI-double from Terri Warren and infield throwing error.

Baddley's RBI-single down the leftfield line in the bottom of the third proved to be the game-winning hit, as Northwest scored four in the inning and eight unanswered to take another run-rule win in six innings.

Riley's two-RBI single with runners at second and third provided the walk-off hit in the sixth.

Nine different players picked up a hit in the run-rule win as Northwest out-hit Delta 14-6.

Lindsey Shaw improved to 5-1 in the circle, scattering three strikeouts, two runs (one earned) and six hits.

Northwest will host Northeast at Noon on Saturday, April 6 in a big north division showdown.

Live stats will be available here: http://www.sidearmstats.com/northwestms/softball.