EUNICE, La. – Facing top-ranked Hinds for a third time in eight days, the Eagles scored six unearned runs through the first four innings to defeat Northwest 9-1 in seven innings in the NJCAA Region 23 Baseball Semifinals Saturday afternoon.

Hinds improved to 43-6 and advances to the region championship game at 7 p.m. against tournament host and 2nd-ranked LSU Eunice (43-9). Northwest's season came to a close at 33-17 overall. 

A four-run top of the first put the Eagles up early, with all four unearned runs coming with two outs after an infield error.

LeeMarcus Boyd and Stuart Chick singled to start the bottom of the first but were both stranded to end the frame.

Back-to-back doubles for Chase Lunceford and Jonathan Washam, followed by Tyler Cox's groundout made it 6-0 Hinds after three. Matt Jones then grounded into a double play but plated Hunter Austin to make it 7-0 after four. 

Hinds starting pitcher Casey Sutton went four strong innings, scattering four hits, no runs and three strikeouts but was pulled to start the fifth after an apparent right arm injury. Keller Bradford tossed the final three innings in relief.

Trailing 9-0 in the sixth after Marshall Boggs' two-out, two-run single, Northwest threatened in the bottom half off Bradford and loaded the bases with no outs.

Chick singled to cap a 4-for-4 day and Dalton Dulin doubled into the gap in left-center, tying a single-season record with his 17th double of the year. James Clark was then plunked to load up the bases. Northwest only managed one run, however, on Kody Kimbrough's one-out RBI-walk. A shallow fly out and strikeout stranded the bases loaded.

All nine Hinds hitters finished with at least one hit as they out-hit the Rangers 12-8 and capitalized off three errors.

Sutton (7-1) and Bradford (1) got the win and save, while Hunter Lacefield (0-2) allowed six runs (one earned) off six hits in three innings to take the loss. Colt Smith allowed one unearned run in two innings.