SENATOBIA – Northwest put up a five-inning shutout against John Wood College but surrendered a late two-run homer in a 5-4 loss to 16th-ranked Southeastern Iowa to split a pair of games on Saturday at Jim Miles Field.
Between the two games was a neutral contest where Southeastern Iowa defeated John Wood, 9-5.
With the split, the Rangers moved to 8-2 on the season, closing out a six-game stretch over the span of a week.
Game 1 - Northwest 10, John Wood 0 (5)
Freshman
Parker Stinnett rebounded nicely from his loss at Copiah-Lincoln earlier in the week, going the distance with six strikeouts while surrendering just one hit in a 10-0 run-rule against John Wood.
After
Hammer Franks got the Rangers on the board in the bottom of the first with his RBI-groundout to short, Northwest added two more in the third with
Tanner Leggett's RBI-double through the right side and an error at third base that later allowed Leggett to score, making it a 3-0 lead.
Peyton Mills scored on an error in the fourth to give the Rangers another run, but it was the fifth inning where Northwest ultimately sealed the deal. A total of six runs were scored, highlighted by Booth's two-run double to right and
Ben Van Cleve's RBI-single to third base to give Northwest the victory.
Freshman
Kelton Hall was the only Ranger to earn multiple hits, finishing 2-for-2 with a walk.
Hammer Franks and
Tanner Booth each recorded two RBIs with Franks going 1-for-3 and Booth finishing 1-for-2.
Game 2 - #16 Southeastern Iowa 5, Northwest 4
A two-out homer from Dayson Croes in the top of the seventh spoiled the sweep for Northwest, as the Blackhawks edged the Rangers 5-4 in the nightcap.
Both teams were locked in a pitchers duel through the first three innings, with one hit apiece for both teams. The Blackhawks would finally break up the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth, as a balk on
Dalton Fowler allowed Bryce Simon to score from third, but the freshman lefty would escape the inning with no further damage.
Northwest would tie the contest in the bottom of the frame, as the failed pickoff attempt allowed Leggett to score from second.
Clark Stovall would follow with a two-run double to left center to give the Rangers a 3-1 advantage.
Croes' single up the middle in the fifth would pull the Blackhawks back within two, but a combined effort from Fowler and
Trent Bunting in relief kept Southeastern Iowa quiet over the next two innings.
With the first two batters down in the seventh, closer
Jackson Smith had the Blackhawks down to their last strike before surrendering a single to Cooper Jones. Croes would then hit the two-run bomb and Gavin Logan would follow with an RBI-double that sent Southeastern Iowa ahead 5-3.
Northwest tried to stage some seventh-inning magic after
Peyton Mills led off with a triple to center. Booth would then drive in Mills off an RBI-groundout, but Kyle Amendt would get
Brayland Skinner on a strikeout for the third out to deny the comeback.
Mills and Van Cleve both finished 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Northwest.
Fowler struck out seven and allowed two earned runs over five innings of work. In relief, Bunting pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout in the sixth while Smith (0-1) was handed the loss.
Northwest will continue non-conference competition on Tuesday, March 5 at Southwest Tennessee in Millington, Tenn. Live stats will be available through nwccrangers.com.
