SENATOBIA – Making their first collegiate starts on the mound against Calhoun on Saturday, freshmen Parker Stinnett and Trent Bunting allowed a combined two runs on four hits with 14 strikeouts to lift the Rangers to a season-opening sweep over the Warhawks by 4-0 and 7-3 finals.

Northwest improved to 2-0 as part of a six-game homestand to open the year. Calhoun fell to 0-2. 

GAME 1 – Northwest 4, Calhoun 0

Solo home runs from Hayden Leatherwood, Tanner Booth and Kelton Hall was more than enough offense for Stinnett as he cruised to a one-hit shutout in six strong innings.

Leatherwood went yard on his opening at-bat of the season, his 16th career long ball, to give Northwest a 1-0 lead after one.

Hall and Booth went back-to-back in the fourth and Hall added an RBI on a fielder's choice in the fifth. 

Stinnett struck out eight in six frames and allowed his lone hit in the fifth inning on a leadoff single.

GAME 2 – Northwest 7, Calhoun 3

Northwest led 7-1 after five behind the arm of Bunting but had to hold off a seventh-inning rally with the bases loaded to close out a two-game sweep of the Warhawks.

An RBI-double from Blake Miller and Peyton Mills' sac fly gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead after two and Ben Van Cleve and Clark Stovall added RBIs in the third to make it 4-0. 

Hammer Franks entered with two outs in the sixth and ran into trouble in the final frame after walking three to load the bases with two outs for Calhoun. But Franks struck out Skylar Holland looking to end the threat and preserve the win for Bunting.

Clark Stovall finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored to lead an 11-hit Ranger attack.

Northwest will welcome Southwest Tennessee to Jim Miles Field on Wednesday, Feb. 13 for a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader.