ELLISVILLE - After dropping Friday's opener at the hands of a walk-off Jones home run in extra innings, Northwest was unable to bounce back in the finale, as the Rangers left with a pair of 8-7 and 7-0 losses.

Northwest was led in Game 1 by Saige Koczka and Maddie Brower, who finished with two home runs apiece. Kaylei Peterson also delivered another gritty outing in the circle, striking out seven Bobcats' batters across 7.2 innings.

Northwest combined for 13 hits in the doubleheader, but Jones ended the Rangers' streak of 11 games with 10 or more hits.

With the sweep, the Rangers fell to 10-8 on the season and 7-7 in conference play, while Jones improved to 20-4 overall (9-3 MACCC). Northwest will return home on Wednesday, March 24 for a midweek doubleheader against Holmes.


Game 1 - #8 Jones College 8, Northwest 7

Northwest had the best of the Bobcats for a majority of the contest, but Jones plated seven runs over the final three innings to force extras, where the Bobcats' Nia Luckett ended the game with a walk-off homer in the eighth.

Peterson gave up a Jones run early in the first but held the Bobcats scoreless in the second, keeping Northwest in striking distance. Koczka's two-run homer to center in the top of the third gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead.

After another solid inning from Peterson, Northwest struck again in the fourth on a solo homer from Maddie Brower. Koczka then followed with an RBI-single right field in the fifth, pushing the Rangers to a 4-1 lead.

As the Bobcats continued to struggle at the plate, the Rangers loaded the bases up in the top of the sixth with one out, only for Jones to get out of the frame unscathed.

That marked the turning point in the game for Jones, as the Bobcats used a pair of two-run homers from Tia'Rain Saunders and Maycee Knight to take a 5-4 lead.

Northwest had no intentions of bowing out in the top of the seventh however, as a solo homer from Koczka and a two-run shot from Brower gave the Rangers another chance and a 7-5 lead.

Once again, the Bobcats struck in the bottom of the seventh. After Peterson delivered the first out, Lauren Lindsey reached on an error and Saunders immediately followed with a two-run homer to tie the contest and force extra innings.

Jones sent the Rangers down 1-2-3 in the top of the eighth and with two outs in the bottom frame, Luckett hit the jackpot to hand Northwest a crushing loss.

Koczka and Brower each finished 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the Rangers, while Laila Armstrong went 2-for-3 with a walk.

Peterson's seven strikeouts tied her career-high for the fourth time this season, as the Clinton native tossed 147 pitches and allowed only one walk. Her season record dropped to 5-4 with the loss.

Meagan Wynne led Jones with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate, while Breley Boykin improved to 10-2 in the circle with nine strikeouts.


Game 2 - #8 Jones College 7, Northwest 0

Jones scattered five runs across the first three innings to build a sizable lead on the Rangers, as Northwest suffered its first shutout of the season.

Tyesha Cole led off the game with a solo homer in the first and the Bobcats followed with a triple from Knight in the second and a three-run third inning.

Jones also plated two runs in the sixth to further bury the Rangers with the seven-run deficit.

Northwest was held to just four hits in the nightcap, two from Caylee Comer. Koczka went a full six innings in the circle and struck out a pair of batters with no walks allowed.

Sterling James was flawless in the circle for Jones, delivering six strikeouts and surrendering no runs on four hits.