Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BARTLETT, Tenn. – Northwest closed out a season sweep over Southwest Tennessee on Wednesday, knocking off the Lady Saluqis 12-7 and 13-12 to improve to 23-12 on the season.

Both games had their fair share of drama, as the Rangers nearly blew an 11-3 lead in the opener and had to rally from a 7-2 deficit to win the finale.

Tied 1-1 after two innings in Game 1, Northwest broke the game open with two runs in the third and four more in each of the fourth and fifth innings. Allison Helton's first career home run, a grand slam to center in the fifth, gave the Rangers a commanding 11-3 lead.

But Southwest responded with four runs of its own to pull within 11-7 in the bottom of the fifth. Alex Turner and Dallas Chipman each hit two-run home runs off Jessica Holliday, two of six Lady Saluqi long balls on the day thanks to a temporary fence that played around 190 feet. 

Kiley Dunagan came on to throw the final two innings to seal the victory, scattering three hits an no runs. Lindsey Shaw (3-2) got the win in relief of Micalah Beall, allowing one run in the fourth. 

Both teams finished with 10 hits in the game but Southwest helped the Rangers' cause with six errors. Andi Barrett and Kendall Alford had two hits apiece and Helton was 1-for-2 with a grand slam and three runs scored. 

Southwest jumped out to a 7-2 lead after three innings in Game 2, highlighted by a five-run second. Kiley Dunagan entered in relief of Roxanna Kimes in the second and tossed 0.2 innings to escape any further damage after a walk and double with the bases loaded. 

Lydia Dias and Shaw tossed the final five innings in relief and did their best keeping the Southwest bats in check, scattering six runs off nine hits. 

Haley Vance's solo shot to center to leadoff the fourth got the Ranger offense going, with An. Barrett hitting a two-run triple and Al. Barrett scoring another off an RBI-single to pull Northwest within 7-6. 

Alex Turner hit a solo home run to leadoff the fifth for Southwest to stretch the advantage back to 8-6 before a six-run sixth inning for Northwest put the good guys in front, 12-8.

Katelyn Westbrook, An. Barrett, Beall and Drennan Nemnich all had RBI hits in the sixth inning. 

Southwest wouldn't go away quietly, however, with Lauren Ray hitting a two-run homer to right-center to make it a 12-10 game after six complete. 

An. Barrett's RBI-single to left in the seventh proved to be the eventual game-winner, giving Northwest a 13-10 lead. Southwest scored two in the bottom half to pull within 13-12 before Shaw struck out Alissa Rice with runners at second and third to hold on for the thrilling win.

Dias (4-1) got the win in 3.0 innings of relief while Shaw earned her second save of the year. 

Similar to the opener, the hits were even again in Game 2 at 14 apiece.

Northwest will close out its regular season home schedule on Friday, April 11, hosting Holmes in a huge north division doubleheader at 2 p.m. It's Sophomore Day, so parents, fans and students are encouraged to get to the games a little earlier than usual.