PERKINSTON – Northwest managed just two runs on four hits in its conference-opening softball doubleheader at No. 15 Gulf Coast on Thursday at Ross-Smith Field as the Lady Bulldogs swept the Rangers 7-0 and 13-2 (5 innings).

Northwest fell to 4-5 overall, 0-2 in the MACJC, while Gulf Coast improved to 9-5 and 2-0.

Game 1 – Gulf Coast 7, Northwest 0

A five-run second inning for MGCCC did the Rangers in as they were held to Katie Brownlee's lone two hits in a shutout loss.

Kristen Cade struck out six of the first 10 batters she faced and finished with 10 strikeouts against four walks.

A leadoff home run in the third from Camryn Williams and inside-the-park home run from Katie Beth Williams pushed the final tally to 7-0. 

Sarah Johnson fell to 2-2 in the circle, allowing five runs on three hits in just an inning of work.

Game 2 – Gulf Coast 13, Northwest 2 (5)

A disastrous third inning saw Gulf Coast score eight runs – all unearned – on just three hits with three Ranger errors as they cruised to a run-rule win in five innings for the sweep.

Northwest scratched across two in the fourth on a sac fly from Kristen Perrigo, scoring Taylor Lott and Shelby Wilson, but that was it.

Lacey Coats and Johnson split two innings each in the circle, allowing four earned runs with four strikeouts and five walks.

Brownlee and Maddy Politte each had a hit in the first two spots in the order. 

Northwest will try and get back on track Saturday, March 16, as they welcome Holmes to Senatobia for a pair of non-conference games. Live stats will be available through nwccrangers.com.