SENATOBIA – Hits were not difficult to come by for Northwest softball on Thursday afternoon, as the Rangers combined for 21 hits in a pair of 11-0 and 21-0 run-rule victories against Blue Mountain JV.

Freshman Sarah Taylor was one of several Rangers that had a big day at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a three-run triple, a grand slam and seven RBIs. Sophomore Tori Luke went 3-for-5 on the day with two RBIs and struck out five batters in a complete-game performance in the opener.

Northwest made a statement early in the opening game, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Taylor got things started for the Rangers with a three-run triple to right field that allowed Luke, Sallie Rose Carver and Ally Judkins to score. Kendall Akerson polished off the first with a two-run single up the middle, scoring Taylor and Harley Smith for the 5-0 Northwest lead.

An error from Blue Mountain in the bottom of the second helped set up an Allison Williams RBI-single up the middle that scored Carver, extending the Ranger lead to 6-0.

After Blue Mountain failed to get on the board in the top of the third, the Ranger bats responded yet again in the bottom of the frame with five more runs. A series of hit batters and wild pitches led to Akerson's two-run double to left field that scored Amber Helmes and Alexis Winters, stretching the Northwest lead to 8-0.

An RBI-double from Judkins and a two-run single from Sarah Craig was all the Rangers needed to finish off the third, as Northwest held the 11-0 lead the rest of the way to a five-inning victory.

Akerson finished 2-for-2 at the plate with a double and four RBIs, while Judkins went 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI.

Luke walked just one batter in the five-inning shutout and improved to 2-2 on the season.

Northwest started the second contest even stronger with a wild first inning that saw the Rangers score 19 runs on eight hits, forcing Blue Mountain to use three different pitchers in the bottom of the first.

Abby Ripp walked Kailey Walker to open the inning but a series of passed balls and wild pitches helped Walker to score on her own, giving Northwest a 1-0 lead. Luke's RBI-single up the middle was quickly followed by Taylor's grand slam that extended the Ranger lead to 6-0. Smith then followed with a solo homer of her own that put the Rangers up 7-0 with no outs.

Former Ranger Carla Avant then came on to pitch for the Toppers but the first inning was still far from over. Carver's two-run single was followed by a wild pitch that allowed Judkins to score from third and an error allowed Carver to then score from third as well, further stretching the Northwest lead to 11-0.

After a bases-loaded walk allowed Luke to score, Leeah Henson followed with an RBI-single to the shortstop. Another error saw Taylor score from third as Walker followed with an RBI-single to left field. A pair of RBIs from Luke and Carver and a passed ball that scored Walker finally capped off the marathon 1-hour first inning with a 19-0 Northwest lead.

An errant throw from the shortstop in the bottom of the second allowed Northwest to plate the final two runs of the contest at 21-0.

Carver went 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs, while Henson finished 2-for-2 with an RBI. 

Along with her first career home run, Smith also captured her first career win, striking out two batters to improve to 1-3 on the year.

Northwest (4-6) will host Southwest Tennessee on Monday, Feb. 27. Live stats will be available for the doubleheader.