CLARKSDALE – Northwest split an afternoon doubleheader at Coahoma on Tuesday, picking up an 11-0 run-rule win (7 inn.) in the opener behind six solid innings from freshman
Peyton Plumlee before falling 5-4 in the nightcap on a walk-off sac fly.
Northwest moved to 12-8 on the season and 4-4 in the conference, while Coahoma moved to 10-15-1 and 4-4 in the MACJC.
(Game 1) Plumlee, a Mississippi State commit, threw a solid six shutout innings for the Rangers to improve to 3-1 on the season, scattering five hits and striking out a career-high nine batters.
Northwest made a statement in the top of the first inning, scoring four early runs thanks to RBIs from
Aaron Campbell,
Cody Cooper,
David Herrington and
Jake McPhail.
LeeMarcus Boyd's solo homer to left-center in the third, his third long ball of the season, pushed the Northwest lead to 5-0 after three complete.
A double from
Jamell Newson helped set the scoring tone for Northwest in the fifth inning as the Rangers notched four additional runs in the frame. After Newson scored off a throwing error from the third baseman, Campbell plated two more Rangers with a single to left-center. Campbell then came around to score on a double play to end the Rangers' scoring surge, extending the Northwest lead to 9-0.
The Rangers delivered the dagger in the top of the seventh, thanks to
Hunter Bishop's RBI-double and Newson's fielder's choice that scored McPhail. Coahoma failed to score in the bottom half, sealing the 11-0 run-rule victory.
Boyd, Wilson, Campbell and Herrington had two hits apiece out of the Rangers' 12 hits, with Boyd and Campbell combining for five RBIs.
Jonathan Lindsey closed things out for the Rangers in the seventh, striking out two batters and allowing two hits.
(Game 2) Trailing for a majority of the contest, Northwest took a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh but could not hold on, as Coahoma added two runs in the bottom of the inning to earn the 5-4 walk-off win.
Coahoma broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third as Lowell Haney struck twice for the Tigers in the inning, driving in Wesley Dew on an RBI-double to left-center before later scoring on a passed ball. The two runs allowed CCC to take a 2-0 advantage.
Northwest closed the gap in the top of the fourth with Herrington's RBI-single to right but the Tigers got the run back in the bottom of the inning as Zach Morris allowed Bailey Lott to score from third on a fielder's choice. The run pushed Coahoma's lead back to a two-run advantage, 3-1.
Wilson got the Rangers back in striking distance in the fifth with an RBI-single to right-center but it was the seventh inning where the Rangers did their damage.
After Newson reached on an error and advanced to second on Wilson's sac bunt, Boyd sent the tying run home with his RBI-single through the right side. Northwest then took the lead, 4-3, as Boyd used the distraction of a Campbell rundown between first and second to sneak home before the putout.
Coahoma refused to be swept at home, however, as the Tigers came out swinging in the bottom of the seventh. Zach Morris singled, advanced to second on Dew's sac bunt and then scored the tying run from third on an error. After two intentional walks to try and setup a double play, Adam Cook's walk-off sac fly to right field scored Haney for the winning run in a 5-4 victory.
Dustin Allen (5-2) went all seven innings for Coahoma, scattering 11 hits and five strikeouts while surrendering two earned runs.
Koby Busby (1-1) came on in relief of
Dalton Minton in the seventh and took his first loss of the season.
Northwest will return to action on Friday, March 25 at Jones County (22-2, 5-1 MACJC). The conference doubleheader is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch in Ellisville. Live video/stats available.
