PERKINSTON – Freshman Hammer Franks finished 4-for-8 with two home runs and four RBIs and left-hander Dalton Fowler struck out eight in the nightcap as No. 16 Northwest earned a pivotal road sweep of 18th-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast on Saturday evening.

With the sweep, the Rangers pushed their winning streak to nine and have won 11 of their last 12, improving to 22-6 overall, 11-3 in the MACJC and a half game out of first place in the conference standings. The losses dropped the Bulldogs to 17-9 on the season and 9-5 in the conference.

Game 1 – #16 Northwest 6, #18 Gulf Coast 2

Despite falling behind 2-0 early, freshman Parker Stinnett (5-1) found himself in a pitchers' duel with MGCCC's Tyler Hoffman, as the Oxford native went six innings with five strikeouts to earn the win for Northwest.

Gulf Coast scattered its two runs over the second and fourth innings, thanks to a sac fly from Alden Davis and an RBI-single from Fisher Ray.

From there, Stinnett and the Rangers settled in to hold the Bulldogs scoreless over the final five frames as Stinnett and Colton Peel combined for seven strikeouts while allowing just two hits.

Meanwhile, the Northwest bats came alive in the top of the sixth inning as Hayden Leatherwood's leadoff double paved the way for back-to-back homers from Franks and Ben Van Cleve, giving the Rangers a 3-2 advantage.

Northwest kept the momentum going in the seventh as Tanner Leggett and Tucker Richmond led off with a pair of singles, followed by a walk to Leatherwood to load the bases. The Rangers would get two runs off a sac fly from Tanner Booth and an RBI-single from Franks to push the lead to 5-2.

Richmond would provide the Rangers with the parting shot in the top of the eighth, scoring Brayland Skinner off an RBI-single to center.

With his solid three-inning relief effort, Peel earned his third save with two strikeouts against a walk. In 12.1 innings this season, the Houston native has allowed just two hits with 19 strikeouts against four walks.

Northwest finished with 10 hits in the opener, with Franks finishing 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a homer along with a 3-for-4 day from Richmond to lead the Rangers at the plate.

Hoffman (3-4) was credited with the loss for the Bulldogs, striking out four and allowing five earned runs in six innings of action.

Game 2 – #16 Northwest 5, #18 Gulf Coast 2

Fowler nearly went the distance for the Rangers in the nightcap, fanning eight batters over 6.2 innings of work improving to 4-1 on the season, as Northwest brought out the brooms for the sweep.

Scoreless through three innings, Northwest got all of its runs with a big top of the fourth, sparked by a solo homer from Franks and RBI-singles from Leggett, Richmond and Garrett Riggs.

Gulf Coast tried to rally late in the bottom of the seventh, as a two-out error allowed Cullan O'Shea to bring in the Bulldogs' first run followed by an RBI-single from Nick Sims that loaded the bases.

Gulf Coast was ultimately unable to spoil the sweep for Northwest as Franks came in relief to face Davis, who would groundout to third to end the rally to give the Rangers the sweep and Franks' second save of the season.

Franks was once again dominant at the plate for Northwest as well, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI. Five other Rangers scattered a hit each for seven total hits.

Truitt Smith (2-2) got the loss for the Bulldogs, striking out five and allowing five earned runs in 3.2 innings.

Northwest now turns its attention to Coahoma on Wednesday, April 10 at 3/6 p.m. from Jim Miles Field, one of the final two regular season doubleheaders left in Senatobia. Live video and stats will be available at nwccrangers.com