SENATOBIA – A solid, complete-game outing from Parker Stinnett on the mound and a dominating performance at the plate from Ben Van Cleve helped No. 9 Northwest claim a 9-1 run-rule victory against Northeast on Sunday evening, winning the best-of-3 playoff series to advance to this week's Region 23 Tournament in Fulton.

Northwest improved to 33-12 overall and ended the Tigers' season at 26-21. The Rangers have won 14 of the last 16 meetings between the two teams.

After Stinnett left two stranded in scoring position to open the contest, the Rangers came out swinging in the bottom half of the first inning as an RBI-single from Hayden Leatherwood and a two-run home run from Ben Van Cleve gave Northwest an early 3-0 advantage.

The Rangers stretched their lead to 5-0 in the third off RBI-singles from Van Cleve and Peyton Mills.

As Stinnett continued to mow down the Northeast batters with his career-high 10 strikeouts, the Rangers would pick up three more runs in the fifth with back-to-back wild pitches and an RBI-double to left-center from Tanner Booth.

Tanner Leggett's sac fly to center field in the sixth would be the last run the Rangers would need for the run-rule victory, although Northeast did spoil the shutout off Aaron Lipsey's solo homer to left field in the top of the seventh.

Stinnett ran his record to 7-3 on the season and surrendered an earned run against five walks and two hits. 

Van Cleve led the Rangers with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate (was 8-for-9 in the series) and finished a triple shy of the cycle. Leggett also went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI as part of 11 Northwest hits.

Northwest will open the Region 23 Tournament against No. 1 LSU Eunice on Wednesday in Fulton. First pitch is scheduled for noon and live video and stats will be available through nwccrangers.com.