SCOOBA – Both Harley Smith and Sarah Johnson tallied complete game performances for Northwest in the circle, but the Rangers couldn't get much offense behind them in a pair of 2-1 losses at East Mississippi in Wednesday afternoon's MACJC opener.

Northwest fell to 4-6 on the season and 0-2 in the MACJC with the sweep, while EMCC improved to 6-10 overall and 2-0 in conference competition.

Northwest will host No. 2 Jones County on Sunday, March 4 (was Saturday) at 1/3 p.m. 

Game 1 – East Mississippi 2, Northwest 1

A bases-loaded single from Kelsey English was the difference in the first contest between the Lady Lions and the Rangers.

With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, East Mississippi loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch and two singles. English then delivered a two-run single to left field to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.

Northwest responded in the top of the fifth after a single from Katie Brownlee set up a left field error on Alexis McShan's at-bat, moving Brownlee to third. Maddy Politte then set down a squeeze bunt to score Brownlee, cutting the lead to 2-1.

Harley Smith's record dropped to 2-4 as she surrendered seven hits, two earned runs and one walk while striking out a pair.

Northwest finished with four hits on the game, two from Brownlee.

Game 2 – East Mississippi 2, Northwest 1

Mollie Singleterry got the scoring started early for EMCC in the nightcap, as her RBI-double to center field put the Lions up 1-0 in the first inning.

Northwest tied it up in the fifth inning, as Kendall Akerson's RBI-double to right center drove in Alexis McShan from second.

East Mississippi delivered a blow to the Rangers in the sixth inning, however, as Camryn Williams smacked a triple to right-center to bring in Singleterry for what would become the winning run.

Sarah Johnson (0-1) gave up three hits and two earned runs while tossing three strikeouts.