Justin Milam
Dillon Day
Justin Milam was 2-for-3 with a home run to help lift the Rangers to a game two victory.
12
Winner Meridian MCC 32-9, 19-6 MACJC
1
Northwest NWCC 26-11, 16-7 MACJC
Winner
Meridian MCC
32-9, 19-6 MACJC
12
Final
1
Northwest NWCC
26-11, 16-7 MACJC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Meridian MCC 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 7 12 12 0
Northwest NWCC 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 3

W: Hunter Stanley (8-1) L: Harrison, Nathan (4-2)

5
Meridian MCC 32-10, 19-7 MACJC
6
Winner Northwest NWCC 27-11, 17-7 MACJC
Meridian MCC
32-10, 19-7 MACJC
5
Final
6
Northwest NWCC
27-11, 17-7 MACJC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Meridian MCC 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 5 8 0
Northwest NWCC 3 1 0 0 0 0 2 6 4 1

W: Harding, Reed (4-2) L: Tyler Lantz (1-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | by Kevin Maloney

Rangers Split with Meridian, Clinch Postseason Berth

SENATOBIA – Shaking off a season-worst, 12-1 loss in eight innings in the opener, Northwest rallied for a 6-5 walk-off win in the nightcap to split with Meridian on Sunday at Jim Miles Field and clinch a spot in the MACJC Playoffs.

Northwest moved to 27-11 overall and 17-7 in MACJC play and will make its ninth straight postseason appearance under Mark Carson. Meridian moved to 32-10 and 19-7 in the conference.

The Rangers wrapped up a 10-game homestand at 8-2 and will play their final two doubleheaders of the regular season on the road at Northeast (May 2) and East Central (May 5). Northwest can clinch a first-round playoff hosting spot with two wins.

Game 1 – Meridian 12, Northwest 1 (8 inn.)

Northwest showed signs of rust after eight days off, allowing three runs in the top of the first on two walks, a hit-by-pitch and three errors. Things didn't get much better after that and the Eagles busted the game open with a seven-run eighth to end the game in eight innings.

Meridian led 3-0 after one without recording a hit. Hayden Leatherwood's solo blast to left cut the lead to 3-1 after two.

But that's as close as the Rangers would get. Meridian added single runs in the third and fifth on an RBI-single from C.J. Hughes and solo homer from Dylan Bradshaw to make it 5-1. 

Hunter White threw out his 21st career running attempting to steal in the fourth to move one putout closer of tying Northwest's all-time record.

Four different pitchers saw the mound for Northwest in the eighth as Meridian scored seven runs off seven hits.

Nathan Harrison (4-2) went a career-long seven innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits. Hunter Stanley allowed one run with five strikeouts over 6.2 frames to improve to 8-1 for Meridian.

Game 2 – Northwest 6, Meridian 5

Despite being out-hit 8-4 in the nightcap, Northwest rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh on a fielder's choice and passed ball to earn a 6-5 walk-off win.

A wacky, 30-minute first inning saw Northwest lead 3-2. Leatherwood's two-run double knotted the game before Ben Van Cleve's RBI-single to right gave the Rangers their first lead of the day.

Justin Milam homered in the second to extend the lead to 4-2. 

Meridian tied the game at 4-4 in the third on Trace Jordan's RBI-double and an RBI-single by Zack Carter.

Jordan struck again for the Eagles in the fourth with another RBI-double to put Meridian back on top 5-4.

Northwest's half of the seventh started with a walk to Grant McMinn to put the tying run on. Pinch runner Bradley Smith stole second to put the run in scoring position and advanced to third on Milam's single. A walk to Dakota Dailey loaded the bases to setup Tanner Leggett's game-tying fielder's choice, followed by a passed ball a batter later to score White for the winning run.

Ian Hawkins and Reed Harding kept Meridian off the board the final 3.1 innings. Harding improved to 4-2.

Milam was 2-for-3 with a homer and Leatherwood had a pair of RBIs in extending his reached base streak to 17 games.