Zach Willingham and Joel Wilkinson pitched two innings apiece with three strikeouts and no runs allowed.


Game 1 – Meridian 10, Northwest 8

Northwest led 8-6 and needed just three outs heading into the top of the ninth inning, but Meridian took advantage of the Rangers' miscues and rallied back with four runs to take the 10-8 victory.

Meridian got on the board first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, popping out three hits and a 2-0 advantage.

Franks got the Rangers going in the bottom of the second however, as his RBI-double to center field wall scored Hall and closed the gap to 2-1. Cade Spratlin then followed with a three-run homer to right center, pushing the Rangers to a 4-2 lead.

Northwest kept the hits going in the third inning as Hall delivered a two-run shot to left center, further extending the Rangers' lead to 6-2. The Ingomar native would strike again in the fifth, scoring Tucker Richmond on a sac fly to make it a 7-2 lead.

Meridian worked its way back in the top of the sixth and closed the gap to 7-6 after an RBI-single, a two-run double and a fielding error. 

Northwest would get a run back in the bottom of the sixth after Landon Rogers scored on a passed ball, moving the Rangers' lead to 8-6 before the ninth-inning rally by Meridian.


Game 2 – Northwest 10, Meridian 2

A three-run homer from Hale and a two-run shot from Wesley Lester highlighted the Rangers' efforts in the nightcap, as Northwest defeated Meridian 10-2 and avoided the sweep.

Scoreless after three frames, Franks pounded out a double down the right field line in the bottom of the second, later scoring on Hale's RBI-single. Peeko Townsend then followed with an RBI-single through the infield gap, making it a 2-0 lead for the Rangers.

Northwest added a run in the third as Alan Kivett scored Caleb Hobson on an RBI-double to center, followed by Lester's two-run homer in the fourth that made it a 5-0 advantage.

Despite allowing an Eagles' run in the top of the sixth, Hale's three-run bomb in the bottom half of the inning made up for it as the Rangers' lead swelled to 8-1.

Meridian threatened to cut into the Rangers' lead in the top of the ninth but could only muster a single run. Northwest would then add two additional runs in a bonus frame off a double from Brady Logan, solidifying the 10-2 win.

Northwest will be back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 7 against East Central and Pearl River in Vicksburg.