SENATOBIA – The top of the Northwest lineup accounted for eight hits, seven RBIs and seven runs scored, led by Spencer Cayten's 4-for-4 afternoon, and Dalton Minton went six strong innings as the Rangers defeated Copiah-Lincoln 9-3 on Saturday to sweep the best-of-3 playoff series.

Northwest won the series 2-0 to advance to its third consecutive NJCAA Region 23 Tournament and 26th all-time. The Rangers improved to 31-17 overall while Co-Lin ended its season at 20-27.

Minton and Christian Day were locked in a pitcher's duel through four scoreless frames before Northwest finally broke through in the fifth.

Two walks in the inning and an error put Hunter White and Zack Pope on to allow David Herrington's fielder's choice to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

Co-Lin immediately responded in the top of the sixth to take its first lead of the series, 2-1, rallying with two outs. Tyler McLeod delivered a two-run double to left for the lead on the 12th pitch he saw from Minton in the at-bat.

The lead was short-lived, however, as the Rangers would rally to score the game's next six runs to pull ahead 7-2 after seven.

Cayten and Brody Catt delivered RBI-hits in the sixth before a solo homer from Zack Pope, Dakota Dailey RBI-single and Cayten two-run home run to left in the seventh put the game away. 

Aaron Campbell put the finishing touches on the Wolfpack with a two-run home run off the scoreboard in left-center in the eighth. 

Minton improved to 7-4 on the season, scattering five hits, two runs and five strikeouts/four walks in six innings. Nathan Harrison worked two scoreless frames before J.G. Lipscomb closed it out in the ninth. 

Northwest will join #1 Jones County, #2 LSU Eunice, Hinds, East Central and Pearl River in the region tournament May 17-21 at JCJC's Community Bank Park in Ellisville.

The Rangers open region play on Wednesday, May 17 at 3 p.m. against East Central. The teams split in the regular season.