SENATOBIA – Falling behind in both games did little to faze Northwest on Saturday, as the Rangers' softball squad rallied in both contests to sweep Holmes by a pair of 5-2 and 9-8 finals, including an extra-inning battle in the nightcap.

Sophomore Saige Koczka once again played a big role in the Rangers' sweep both at the plate and in the circle, while freshman Maddie Brower and sophomore Mycala Helms also delivered big hits in both contests.


Game 1 – Northwest 5, Holmes 2

Holmes struck first by scattering a pair of runs in the first and third innings, but Northwest quickly rallied back in the bottom half of the fourth, thanks to a solo shot by Brower, resulting in her third home run of the fall.

After freshman Caylee Comer delivered a double, Helms followed with a two-run homer to right center that allowed Northwest to take a 3-2 lead on the Bulldogs.

A scoreless fifth inning would be redeemed in the sixth as Helms once again brought in a pair of Ranger runs, this time on a two-run double, giving Northwest a 5-2 advantage.

Holmes stepped up to the plate with one last chance in the top of the seventh but Allen denied the Bulldogs a chance to carve into the lead, sealing the Northwest victory at 5-2.

Allen tossed three strikeouts in a complete game effort and Helms' four RBIs led the Rangers at the plate.


Game 2 – Northwest 9, Holmes 8 (8 inn.)

Although it seemed that Holmes would run away with the second game after taking a 5-0 lead in the third inning, Northwest slowly chipped away at the lead and eventually tied the contest in the bottom of the seventh, forcing extra innings and an eventual 9-8 victory.

Holmes led the contest 6-1 entering the bottom of the seventh and had the Rangers pinned to their final two outs. That's when the magic began to happen, sparked by an RBI-double by Molly Harris and followed by an RBI-single from Laila Armstrong, trimming the deficit in half to 6-3.

Despite a home pitching change, the Rangers kept fighting back as Saige Koczka reached first on a fielder's choice that would result in an error and another Northwest run. 

An RBI-double from Allen tied the contest at 6-6 and intentional walk to Brower brought Molly Beth Ferguson to the plate with two runners on and one out. Another Holmes pitching change would pay off however, as the Rangers failed to scrape across the winning run, setting up extra innings.

Holmes regained an 8-6 lead with a two-run triple in the top of the eighth but the Rangers had no interest in taking a loss, as Kaitlyn Bednarek's RBI-single scored Helms to bring the Rangers back within one.

Following a Harris walk and an Avery McIver bunt, Koczka came up to the plate and delivered the ultimate present on her birthday, a two-run walkoff that sealed the 9-8 victory and the home sweep.

Koczka and Bednarek led the Rangers with three hits apiece, with Koczka delivering three RBIs. Allen also totaled a pair of RBIs at the plate for Northwest.

Koczka also pitched one strikeout in two innings of work, as Peterson went the other six innings with a strikeout.

Northwest will get an extended break for the fall, returning to action at Arkansas State on October 17.