SENATOBIA - For the first time in four years, the Northwest softball program has punched its ticket to the postseason.

Needing a split against the fifth-ranked Copiah-Lincoln Lady Wolves, the Rangers rose to the occasion with a 7-4 victory in the opener, clinching the seventh seed in the upcoming MACCC Tournament.

With the win, the Rangers also picked up their first victory against a nationally-ranked opponent since April 10, 2018, when Northwest defeated then-No. 19 Northeast by a 5-2 final. The last time the Rangers defeated a top-five ranked foe came on April 8, 2017 in a 5-4 thriller against a No. 5-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast squad.

Further details regarding the MACCC Tournament, including bracket, game times and streaming information will be released in the coming days on Twitter (@NWCC_Rangers) and at nwccrangers.com.


Game 1 - Northwest 7, #5 Copiah-Lincoln 4

Much like the first game of the East Central doubleheader on Monday, Northwest had to break out the rally caps once again with a big fifth inning.

Northwest trailed Copiah-Lincoln 3-0 entering the bottom of the fifth, when the Rangers erupted for a six-run frame, highlighted by a two-run double from Molly Harris. Northwest also added a much-appreciated insurance run in the home half of the sixth inning to seal the upset.

Scoreless after two complete, the Lady Wolves got on the board with Carlon Brabham's two-run single to left field. Co-Lin would add another run in the fourth, thanks to an RBI-single from Bela Dekovic, providing the opposition with the 3-0 advantage.

A leadoff walk to Meredith Owen sparked the fifth-inning Ranger rally, as Oakley Laughter followed with a single before Saige Koczka drew a walk to load the bases.

Maddie Brower got Northwest on the board with her RBI-single up the middle and Molly Beth Ferguson was hit by a pitch, drawing in another run to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Harris' two-run double gave the Rangers the lead and a passed ball on MyCala Helms' at-bat scored Ferguson from third, pushing the lead to 5-3. Helms would then score Harris on an RBI-single, closing out the big frame for Northwest.

After Kaylei Peterson sent the Lady Wolves down in order in the sixth, the Rangers struck again with an RBI-double from Brower that pushed the lead to a 7-3 margin. Brabham's solo homer was the only highlight of the seventh for Co-Lin, as the Rangers preserved the monumental victory.

Northwest finished with eight hits, led by a pair of 2-for-3 efforts from Brower and Helms. Co-Lin ended with six hits, two from Brabham.

Peterson picked up the win in relief for the Rangers after tossing the final two innings, allowing an earned run and a walk against one strikeout. Meagan Allen delivered seven strikeouts in a solid five-inning appearance.

Cera Blanchard fell to 13-3 for Co-Lin and allowed all seven of the Rangers' earned runs. She also finished with five strikeouts on four walks.


Game 2 - #5 Copiah-Lincoln 6, Northwest 2

Led by four solo home runs, Co-Lin got the best of the Rangers in the nightcap with a 6-2 decision.

Brabham led off the game with a first inning homer, only for Northwest to respond with a double from Koczka and a grounder to second, scoring Laila Armstrong for a 1-1 tie.

In her second at-bat, Brabham again teed off on a solo shot to give the Lady Wolves a 2-1 advantage in the third. Co-Lin's lead would only grow in the top of the fourth, as Blanchard and Molly Johnson delivered back-to-back home runs to make it a 4-1 lead.

Harris joined the home run party with a solo shot of her own to center field, bringing the Rangers back within 4-2 to start the bottom of the fourth. The home run was Harris' fifth of the season and the fourth since Sunday.

Although the Rangers would get a pair of singles from Buchanan and Owen, a popup to short would end the inning with no further damage done to Co-Lin.

Still leading 4-2 entering the top of the seventh, the Lady Wolves finally broke away with a pair of RBI singles from Dekovic and Bailey Jackson. The rally caps were not present for the Rangers in the bottom of the seventh, as Co-Lin retired the side to salvage the regular season-ending split.

Northwest scattered six hits across the lineup, with Armstrong, Brower, Buchanan, Harris, Koczka and Owen earning one each. Meanwhile, the Lady Wolves smashed 13 hits, with four players hitting two or more.

Peterson got the start and lasted three complete innings, while picking up the loss. Allen made a brief relief appearance of 0.1 innings, while Koczka closed out the remaining 3.2 innings with two strikeouts against a pair of earned runs.

Bella Luckey improved to 13-2 for Co-Lin, as she struck out three while going the distance.