MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Northwest and Southwest Tennessee split a doubleheader on a chilly and windy Monday afternoon at USA Stadium, with the Rangers taking the opener 13-5 behind a 16-hit attack and the Saluqis edging out a 4-3 win in the nightcap.

Northwest moved to 1-1 in its season-opener, while Southwest moved to 4-4. Watch the replay at NJCAATV.com/nwccrangers.

"I'm really pleased with our effort today," head coach Mark Carson said. "I thought for the first night out seeing a live arm and being on the road, we swung the bat well. Obviously that wasn't the case in the second game. But I think it's a step in the right direction. We like our club."  

In the opener, the teams exchanged three leads in the first three innings before Northwest's bats came alive and the Rangers outscored Southwest 11-1 over the final six innings. Northwest also benefited from six Saluqi errors.

Freshman Colt Smith (1-0, 0.00 ERA) tossed 5.1 innings of four-hit ball, striking out four and not allowing an earned run in a solid collegiate debut. 

Southwest took a 4-2 lead after two innings, plating three unearned runs after a throwing error at home plate.

But Northwest quickly erased the deficit an inning later, pushing ahead 5-4 after an RBI-double by Stephen Sexton and a two-run error by the Saluqi shortstop. 

Northwest piled it on after that, scoring two in the fourth and three runs each in the sixth and ninth, highlighted by LeeMarcus Boyd's two-run triple down the left field line in the sixth.

Colin Liles and Koby Busby shut the door after that, throwing the final 3.2 innings and allowing one run off two hits.

Eight different Rangers grabbed a hit in the opener, with five players finishing with multiple hits. Stuart Chick had a career game, going 5-for-5 with three runs scored.

Peter Barton (0-1, 1.40) was cruising along with a 2-0 lead in the fourth of Game 2 until he lost his command and allowed leadoff walks in consecutive innings to score and tie the game.

After a leadoff walk in the fifth, Miguel Egea reached on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt that allowed Gerald Collazo to plate the tying run. The Saluqis then pushed ahead two batters later on Vince Hoyt's sacrifice fly to center. 

The Saluqis added one more in the sixth off another Ranger error and led 4-2 after six.

Northwest threatened in the seventh with runners at second and third with one out, but could only plate one run on Luke Latham's sac fly to right.

Matt Mills stymied the Ranger hitters in a complete-game effort, scattering four hits, three runs and six strikeouts. Despite the loss, Barton set a new career-high with eight strikeouts while scattering three runs off two hits and four walks.  

James Clark was responsible for two of the Rangers' four hits in the game, giving him four on the day.

Northwest will host Arkansas Baptist on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 2/5 p.m. for its home-opener at Jim Miles Field.