CORINTH – Despite surrendering nine runs in a tough loss to Bossier Parish on Friday afternoon, Northwest recovered nicely with a solid outing from freshman
Saige Koczka in a Game 2 victory against Jefferson College in the Northeast TigerFest.
With the split, the Rangers ended their season-opening weekend with a 2-2 record. Northwest will face Coastal Alabama-South and #4 Jones College on Wednesday, Feb. 19 in the Jones College Invitational in Ellisville.
Game 1 – Bossier Parish 10, Northwest 5 (5 inn.)
Trailing 4-1 entering the bottom half of the fourth inning, Bossier Parish exploded for nine runs to flip the script in a 10-5 victory against the Rangers.
Northwest delivered the first blow in the top of the second as a passed ball on a walk to
Molly Beth Ferguson advanced
Madison Crosby from third, resulting in the Rangers' first run.
As Ferguson stole second base in the next at-bat, MyCala Helms advanced from third on the throw to add a second run on the board. Ferguson would then reach home on an RBI-single from
Emma Grace Schell, propelling the Rangers to a 3-0 advantage.
An RBI-single from Ashlyn Montgomery put Bossier Parish on the board in the bottom of the second, but
Lacey Coats ended the scoring threat with a swinging strikeout at the plate, leaving two stranded in scoring position.
Schell struck again for Northwest in the top of the fourth, scoring Ferguson on an RBI-single to left center to make it a 4-1 lead for the Rangers.
Bossier Parish turned the tables in the bottom of the fourth however, gathering nine runs on nine hits that started with Dyllan Sanay triple and an RBI-double from Nicollette Blenker.
With two runners on, the Rangers brought in freshman
Kaylei Peterson for Coats but the pitching change did little to slow down the Cavaliers. Bossier Parish would go on to earn seven more RBIs off four singles, a double and a three-run triple to take a comfortable 10-4 lead.
Northwest would earn a run in the top of the fifth but the game would end on a failed stolen base attempt at second, sealing the win for Bossier Parish.
Schell highlighted the Rangers' six-hit effort at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Ferguson also finished with an RBI with a hit and a walk.
Coats (1-1) struck out two in the loss for Northwest while allowing eight runs and a walk.
Game 2 – Northwest 8, Jefferson College 4 (6 inn.)
In her pitching debut, Southaven native
Saige Koczka delivered for Northwest, throwing a complete six-inning outing with five strikeouts, four hits and two earned runs allowed to help the Rangers to an 8-4 rebound against Jefferson College.
Northwest wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard as Schell teed off on a single to left field on the first pitch of the game.
Oakley Laughter then followed with a sac bunt attempt, but a throwing error from third base allowed her and Schell to score, as the Rangers earned a quick 2-0 lead.
After a left-field single from Koczka,
Brittni Beard would deliver another Ranger run after an error in center field allowed Koczka to score.
Jefferson College would get a run back in the bottom of the first after a right field error sent Alyson Tucker in from second base, cutting the Northwest lead to 3-1.
Facing two outs in the top of the third, Northwest broke through for three more runs as an RBI-single from Ferguson and a two-run double from
Delta Claire Newman made it a 6-1 advantage for the Rangers.
Once again, Jefferson College issued a response in the bottom of the frame, as Jessica Veselske's two-run triple kept the Vikings within striking distance, trailing 6-3.
Ferguson continued her solid start to the season with a sac fly to center field, scoring
Madison Crosby in the top of the fifth to push the Rangers to a 7-3 lead.
Beard helped Northwest earn its final run in the top of the sixth, scoring Laughter on a sac fly to right. The Vikings would add a run in the bottom of the sixth but the rally was shut down by a groundout to second base.
Seven players finished with at least one hit as Northwest totaled nine hits in the victory. Beard and Koczka earned two hits apiece, as Beard finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.
