SENATOBIA – A complete game performance from Harley Smith in Game 1 and a three-run rally in Game 2 were not enough to upend 11th-ranked Itawamba on Wednesday afternoon, as the Rangers fell 2-0 and 8-3.

On the wrong end of the sweep, Northwest dropped to 4-10 on the season and 0-6 in the MACJC, while ICC improved to 15-3 and 6-0 in conference play.

Northwest will travel to Meridian on Friday, March 9 at 2/4 p.m. 

Game 1 – #11 Itawamba 2, Northwest 0

An error in the top of the seventh led to ICC breaking a scoreless tie, driving in a pair of unearned runs off a fielder's choice and a single to right-center, setting up the 2-0 win for the Indians.

Smith kept the Indians off the board for six innings, scattering three hits and one strikeout before allowing three more hits in the top of the seventh.

Northwest had opportunities to get on the board, as Shelby Wilson delivered a single in the first and a right field double in the third inning. The best chance for runs came in the bottom of the fourth, however, as Alexis McShan's double bounced off the top of the left field wall, just barely denying a home run for the Rangers.

Smith's record fell to 2-6 on the year, despite a gritty performance that resulted in no earned runs. Bailie Springfield improved to 8-1 on the year for ICC, striking out three batters.

Both teams finished the contest with five hits. Wilson led the Rangers by finishing 2-for-3 with a double, while Smith, McShan and Sarah Taylor all went 1-for-3, with doubles from McShan and Smith.

Game 2 – #11 Itawamba 8, Northwest 3

Itawamba jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two and a half innings and added a pair of runs in the seventh to stave off a Northwest rally, defeating the Rangers 8-3.

Shelby Newsom got the Indians going in the top of the first inning, as her RBI-single to left scored Cori Childs. An error at shortstop then allowed Newsom to score, putting ICC up 2-0.

With the bases loaded in the second, Meg Sullivan drove in another ICC run followed by a sac fly from Samantha Conley that made it a 4-0 deficit for the Rangers.

After Itawamba scored two more in the top of the third to make it 6-0, Northwest responded with Katie Brownlee's RBI-single to right center, scoring Wilson, cutting the lead down to 6-1.

Northwest continued to rally in the fourth, as Morgan Gresham sent an RBI-double to left that scored Harley Stoufflet. Wilson immediately followed with an RBI-double to the same spot, scoring Gresham to trim the gap in half, 6-3.

Northwest would be held scoreless over the next two innings, however, and in the seventh, ICC would add two more runs off a fielder's choice and sac fly to regain an 8-3 advantage.

The Rangers tried for one last rally in the bottom of the frame, as Smith and Sarah Johnson both singled to set up a fielder's choice from Katie Brownlee. ICC would get out the inning unharmed, however, as a fly-out to center ended the inning and the game.

Brownlee and Johnson split time in the circle, with Brownlee getting tabbed with the loss (2-3), surrendering six runs (three earned) off four hits and two strikeouts. Johnson dished four strikeouts and allowed two earned runs in four innings of action.

Northwest finished with nine hits, led by Taylor's 2-for-4 game with a double. Seven other players finished with one hit apiece.