SENATOBIA – Northwest used a career-high 15 strikeouts from Cody Reed in game one and a three-run home run from J.D. Tackett in game two to sweep a hard-fought doubleheader over Coahoma on Saturday evening by 1-0 and 5-3 scores. | Watch Replay
Northwest improved to 20-9 overall and 11-3 in the north, extending its lead to two games in the division standings. Coahoma dropped to 3-25 overall and 1-13 in division play.
Behind the arms of Tommie Brown and Ray Williams, Coahoma gave Northwest all it could handle.
The Rangers broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the opener, 1-0, using Taylor King's RBI-double to right that scored Chase Clark.
Reed, who put on a dominant performance in front of nearly 40 MLB scouts, set a new career-high with his 15 strikeouts and needed just 76 pitches (61 strikes) in his fourth consecutive complete-game. He improved to 5-1 on the year and recorded his fifth career shutout which is a new school record.
Brown was the hard-luck loser for Coahoma, but was equally impressive on the mound surrendering just six hits and one run while striking out nine.
In game two, Josh Brown's RBI-double gave Northwest a 1-0 lead in the first that would hold to the fourth.
Coahoma would then take its first lead of the night in the fourth, 2-1, when Brett Chancelor delivered a two-run single into left-center and scored pinch runner Jacorious Jackson and Tommie Brown.
Northwest would tie it at 2-2 in the bottom half of the inning, as Phillip Correro beat out an infield single to score Brown after a leadoff single.
Again the Tigers pushed back in front in the fifth, taking advantage of a pair of walks and using a fielder's choice by Darian Bester to retake the lead at 3-2. The go-ahead run was credited to starter Matt Ferguson, with Tanner Densford coming on in relief with two on and one out to close the inning.
After going down in order in its half of the fifth, Northwest would retake the lead for good in the sixth in dramatic fashion.
Brennan Pugh led off the inning with a single and Walt McCullough drew a one-out walk to put runners on first and second for Tackett. Coahoma then bluffed at what looked to be a pitching change and left Williams in to face Tackett. The sophomore then drove the second pitch he saw from Williams over the short porch in right for a three-run home run – the first of his collegiate career – for a 5-3 lead.
Tyler Scholl then came on to close in the seventh and earned his third save of the season. Densford grabbed the win and went to 3-0 in 1.2 innings of relief.
Brown and Tackett had two hits apiece as part of an eight hit attack for Northwest.
Northwest will travel to Fulton on Tuesday, April 9 to face Itawamba at 3 p.m. at Roy Cresap Field.
Live audio courtesy of ICC will be available at www.fm95radio.com and live stats courtesy of Northwest will be available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/northwestms/baseball.
