SENATOBIA – Backed by strong starting pitching and taking advantage of numerous Ranger miscues on the afternoon, the visiting Southwest Mississippi Lady Bears swept a softball doubleheader over Northwest on Friday by 4-3 and 10-1 finals.
Southwest improved to 22-16 overall and 15-9 in the MACJC with the sweep, clinching a spot in the postseason. Northwest dropped to 16-14 overall and 10-12 in the conference (ninth) and is currently on the outside looking in.
(Game 1) Tied 3-3 after five innings, Southwest found the go-ahead run on Kelcey Bremenkamp's RBI-single up the middle in the sixth to take the opener 4-3.
Southwest plated two runs in its opening at-bat before the Rangers immediately responded with a pair on
Kat Holley's two-run single to right to tie the game at 2-2 after an inning.
Scoreless the next three frames, Austin Pruitt doubled to score the go-ahead run in the fifth for SMCC, her third hit of the game. After two quick outs in the bottom half of the frame,
Ashton Needham's RBI-triple to right scored Holley to tie the game at 3-3 after five.
SMCC pushed ahead for good in the sixth, using Jenna Duff's one-out single to get the rally started. Kristie Sanchez pinch ran for Duff, advanced to third on a passed ball and then scored on Bremenkamp's single.
Macy Fulton tossed a complete game to earn the win for SMCC, scattering nine hits and two earned runs to improve to 11-7 on the year.
Hailee Kolwyck allowed all four runs and allowed 10 hits while striking out five to take the loss.
Seven different Rangers had a hit in the opener, led by Holley and Kolwyck with two hits apiece.
(Game 2) The top of the SMCC lineup combined to go 9-for-15 with eight RBIs and seven runs scored and the Lady Bears capitalized off five Ranger errors to run away for a 10-1 win in the nightcap.
Southwest opened up what was just a 3-0 game with a three-run fifth and four-run seventh, highlighted by Duff's two-run homer to left that bounced off the top of the fence and over.
Northwest never threatened until its final at-bat.
Olivia Owen doubled, advanced to third on an error and came around to score on
Allison Williams' RBI-single to the pitcher for the Rangers' lone run.
Rebecca Davis (10-7) went the distance for SMCC, scattering seven hits and one run (unearned).
Tori Luke lasted 4.2 innings, scattering five hits and six runs (one earned) to drop to 8-6 on the year.
Heath Griffith went 3-for-3 to lead Northwest in the finale and finished the day a team-high 4-for-7 with a double.
Northwest will host 8th-ranked and conference-leading Jones County (31-6, 20-2 MACJC) on Sunday at 2 p.m.