RAYMOND – Trailing 6-3 after two innings in the opening game of the MACJC Baseball Tournament, sophomore Colin Liles stymied 15th-ranked East Mississippi for 6.2 innings and Northwest rallied with a four-run sixth inning to pick up a 9-7 victory to advance to the semifinals against top-ranked Hinds.

With the win, Northwest has also clinched a spot in next weekend's NJCAA Region 23 Tournament in Eunice, La., with the winner of the four-team, double-elimination tournament advancing to the College World Series in Enid, Okla.

Northwest jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on Lion starter Andrew Crane after Dalton Dulin's sacrifice fly in the first and Luke Latham's two-run homer off the foul pole in left in the second.

But a six-run second inning put EMCC on top for the first time at 6-3, scoring a pair off a bases loaded hit-by-pitch and walk, followed by two-run singles by JoVaughn McNabb and David Pimentel.

Liles then entered in relief of J.G. Lipscomb with one out in the third and absolutely dominated on the hill.

Northwest got a single run back in the fifth on Dulin's RBI-single down the right field line and rallied for a four-run sixth to retake the lead at 8-6. Jamell Newson singled to score Clay Casey and Stuart Chick doubled to right-center on the first pitch he saw to clear the bases, scoring LeeMarcus Boyd, Newson and Latham.

EMCC pulled within 8-7 in the eighth after an RBI-single by Corley Reynolds but wouldn't get any closer.

Casey singled to left in the ninth for a big insurance run and Liles got a groundout and 4-6-3 double play to seal it.

Eight Rangers had at least one hit in the win, with Boyd and Dulin finishing with multiple hits. 

Liles improved to 3-2 on the mound, scattering four hits, one run and six strikeouts. Crane allowed eight runs in the loss.

Northwest will face No. 1 Hinds at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the state semifinals. The Rangers won the coin toss last night and will be the home team. Watch all the action at hindsccsports.net/Home.