SENATOBIA – A pair of solid relief outings from
Ian Hawkins and
Reed Harding helped lift Northwest to a pair of one-run victories against Mississippi Delta, 7-6 and 9-8, on Wednesday at Jim Miles Field.
Northwest ran its winning streak to five games and improved its record to 24-10 and 14-6 in the MACJC. Mississippi Delta fell to 14-20 on the season and 6-12 in conference play.
The Rangers will now turn their attention to Saturday, April 21, as Hinds comes to town with an overall record of 21-13 (7-11 MACJC). First pitch from Jim Miles Field is slated for 2 p.m.
Game 1 –
Northwest 7, Mississippi Delta 6
After falling behind ny three runs early, Northwest had to build a slow rally the rest of the way before eventually winning in walk-off fashion, 7-6, in the bottom of the ninth on
Tanner Booth's RBI-single to left.
MDCC scored early and often, bringing in a pair of runs off Matt McCurley's single up the middle in the first and another run from a wild pitch in the second.
Northwest would battle back in the bottom of the second and slice the lead down to 3-2, thanks to
Justin Milam's RBI-single up the middle and
Dakota Dailey's sac fly to center.
Both teams would go back-and-forth over the next two innings, as Parker Lane's solo homer in the top of the third was evened with
Brant Blaylock scoring in the bottom of the frame off
Will Brooks' fielder's choice. An additional two runs from the Trojans in the fourth pushed the lead out to 6-3 and signaled Hawkins to come on in relief for Northwest.
That's when the Rangers began to gain some much-needed momentum. Despite a pair of leadoff walks in the fifth and sixth innings, Hawkins held the Trojans scoreless and without a hit for the final 5.1 frames while tossing seven strikeouts.
The Rangers began to carve away at the Trojans' lead in the sixth on Booth's solo homer to right and would tie the contest at 6-6 in the bottom of the seventh off an infield error and a balk.
After Hawkins sent MDCC down swinging in the ninth, the Rangers loaded the bases on Blaylock's single, a hit-by-pitch and an intentional walk, setting up Booth's walk-off single.
Hawkins picked up the win, improving his record to 4-1 overall. Starter
Reed Logsdon, lasted 3.1 innings and surrendered six runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.
Northwest totaled 10 hits in the contest, led by two apiece from Booth, Blaylock and Milam.
Game 2 –
Northwest 9, Mississippi Delta 8
Northwest built a 7-0 lead after two innings before withstanding a furious Mississippi Delta rally to come away with the 9-8 victory in the nightcap.
Northwest got five runs in the bottom of the first, sparked by a failed pickoff attempt that allowed Dailey to score from second. The Rangers then responded with a trio of RBI-doubles from
Hayden Leatherwood, Brooks and
Grant McMinn before a flyout to center ended the inning.
The Rangers would get two more in the second, thanks to an RBI-triple from
Tanner Leggett and an RBI-single from Blaylock, giving Northwest a 7-0 advantage.
Will Godfrey's two-run homer in the third would get the Trojans on the board before Mississippi Delta added three more in the fifth, cutting the Ranger lead to 7-5.
Jake McPhail tried to give Northwest some breathing room with an RBI-single to right-center in the bottom of the fifth, but a pair of walks and an RBI-single from Cade Blanchard in the sixth tied the contest at 8-8.
After drawing a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the frame to regain a 9-8 lead, the Trojans grounded into two outs before Harding delivered the exclamation point by sending Dawson Ivey down swinging, as the Rangers held on for the sweep.
Harding (3-2) tossed 1.2 innings of relief to pick up the win, surrendering only one hit with three strikeouts.
Harrison Sandridge went four innings for Northwest, allowing five runs on seven hits with two strikeouts.
Northwest once again finished with 10 hits in the contest, including a pair of 2-for-3 performances from Brooks and Dailey.
