Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SENATOBIA - Facing its second conference doubleheader in as many days, No. 4 Northwest struggled to get the bats going in a pair of 9-0 and 12-0 losses to seventh-ranked Pearl River on Thursday afternoon.

Northwest collected five hits in the first matchup, but Pearl River held the Rangers to only one in the nightcap. The Rangers also struggled on the mound in both games, allowing a combined 16 hits on the day.

With the losses, the Rangers dropped to 8-6 overall and 2-2 in the MACCC, while the Wildcats rose to 12-4 and 2-2 in conference play. Northwest will have a quick turnaround on Saturday with a trip to Mississippi Gulf Coast.


Game 1 - #7 Pearl River 9, #4 Northwest 0

Northwest held its own for the majority of the first contest, only for Pearl River to finally break the game open with a pair of three-run innings in the eighth and ninth, as the Wildcats handed the Rangers their first shutout loss since 2017.

Northwest scattered five hits across the first seven innings, but the Rangers were unable to find the momentum and instead left seven runners stranded.

Pearl River picked up its first run in the top of the fourth, as D.K. Donaldson's sac fly to center allowed Von Seibert to cross the plate. The Wildcats tacked on another in the fifth, thanks to Kasey Donaldson's solo homer to right, making it a 2-0 deficit for the Rangers.

Pearl River pushed its lead to 3-0 in the top of the seventh after scoring off a fielder's choice to short. The Rangers tried to match the momentum with a double down the left field line from Caleb Hobson, that later set up a walk to Cade Spratlin. However, the inning would end with a groundout to second, denying Northwest a chance to cut into the Wildcats' lead.

After the leadoff batter reached first on a hit-by-pitch, Pearl River's Graham Crawford slugged a two-run homer to right center that was immediately followed by a solo home run from Dalton Cummins, extending the Wildcats' lead to 6-0.

Insult to injury was added in the top of the ninth, as the Wildcats scraped across three more runs. Northwest used a series of pinch hitters in the bottom of the ninth, but went down swinging aside from a walk to Cameron Lancaster.

No player in the Northwest lineup earned more than one hit on the day, with Hobson's double serving as one of the few highlights. In contrast, the Wildcats were led by a 2-for-3 effort from Taylor Woodcock and a seven-strikeout performance on the mound from Landon Gartman.

Colton Presley (0-1) was handed the hard luck loss for Northwest, despite six solid innings and six strikeouts. The Hernando native allowed two earned runs in the start, while relivers Will Logsdon and Alan Kivett accounted for seven runs over a combined 2.2 innings of action.


Game 2 - #7 Pearl River 12, #4 Northwest 0

Northwest trailed by a narrow 2-0 margin until a four-run fourth inning and a six-run output in the seventh lifted Pearl River to another shutout.

Pearl River drove in its first run in the opening frame and another in the third, despite a solid effort from Josh Hill, who delivered seven strikeouts in four complete innings.

Northwest held the Wildcats scoreless over the fifth and sixth innings, but the Rangers were unable to counter with any runs and only one hit.

Tate Parker's two hits and two RBIs led the Wildcats at the plate, while Crawford totaled four RBIs.

Jacob Scherer picked up the win on the mound for Pearl River, lasting five innings and delivering four strikeouts. Landon Harper polished off the final two innings with five strikeouts in relief.