SENATOBIA - Late inning heroics worked for and against Northwest in Tuesday evening's split with Mississippi Delta at Jim Miles Field.

Trailing 5-0 in the fifth inning of the opener, Northwest successfully rallied back and used a three-run homer from Peyton Mills in the bottom of the ninth, walking off a 12-9 victor. 

Mississippi Delta would get the last laugh in the nightcap, however, as the Trojans tied the game up at 2-2 in the top of the seventh, forcing extra innings. MDCC would eventually plate two runs in the top half of the 10th inning, stealing Game 2 and leaving with the split.

Jake Savage (4-2) pitched a pair of relief outings, leaving as the Game 1 winner before picking up the loss in Game 2.

Northwest fell to 19-13 on the season and 11-9 in the MACCC. The Rangers will host No. 9 East Central for Sophomore Day on Saturday, April 10 at 2/5 P.M.


Game 1 - Northwest 12, Mississippi Delta 9

A four-run top of the first for the Trojans dug Northwest in a big hole, only for the Rangers to slowly rally back with a pair of five-run innings in the seventh and ninth, capped off by Mills' three-run walk-off homer.

After the big first inning, Mississippi Delta added another run in the second off an RBI-grounder from Gage Little, making it a 5-0 deficit for the Rangers.

Both teams went scoreless over the next two innings, but the Rangers finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth with Cade Spratlin's RBI-single. Northwest would also pick up a second run in the sixth off a sacrifice fly from Kelton Hall, only for Mississippi Delta to add a pair of runs to extend the deficit to 7-2.

Things finally broke open for the Rangers in the bottom of the seventh, as Dylan Hale's RBI-single up the middle sparked a five-run Ranger rally. Hall would then add more excitement, sending a grand slam to deep center and tying the game at 7-7.

Although the Trojans plated two more runs in the top of the eighth, Northwest created some magic in the bottom of the ninth with another five-run frame. Wesley Lester's RBI-single through the left side got the momentum going for the Rangers, as Ty Leatherwood made it a 9-9 game with his RBI-single through the right side.

With Lester and Garrett Riggs on base, Mills smashed his 12th homer of the season out to center field, completing the comeback for Northwest.

Both teams finished with 10 hits each, led by two apiece from Hale and Tucker Richmond, along with two hits from Riggs Easterling, Gage Little and Davon Mims.

Savage tossed the final inning for the Rangers, striking out one Trojan batter against one walk. Josh Hill started the first three innings for Northwest, but allowed two earned runs against two walks and a strikeout.

Joel Wilkinson also pitched a solid relief outing for Northwest, as the sophomore struck out two and allowed two earned runs in 4.1 innings of work.

Chase Morgan was handed the loss for Mississippi Delta, as he allowed four runs against two strikeouts in relief. Landon Comer started 6.1 innings for the Trojans and delivered four strikeouts.


Game 2 - Mississippi Delta 5, Northwest 3 (10 inn.)

For eight of the 10 total innings played, Mississippi Delta had no answer for Northwest and freshman pitcher John Luke Marlin. However, the seventh and 10th innings proved to be costly for the Rangers, as the Trojans forced extra innings and came away with a two-run 10th inning.

Marlin was consistent for his first six innings, but surrendered a pair of earned runs on a two-run double from Easterling. The Tupelo native finished with eight strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Mississippi Delta also added another contestant to the pitching duel, as Haden Luke went 150 pitches and delivered 14 strikeouts in nine complete innings. Chase Logan pitched the final inning in relief and earned the win, as the Trojans successfully kept the Rangers from staging another rally.

Scoreless after the first inning, Riggs got Northwest on the board with a solo homer to center field, followed by an RBI-single from Mills in the fourth.

After the Trojans added the tying runs in the seventh, Northwest failed to get anything going in the bottom half of the inning, forcing extra innings.

Mims' RBI-single in the top of the ninth added a run for the Trojans, but Riggs tied things back up once more with another solo homer in the bottom of the ninth.

With one out in the top of the 10th, Julian Murphy's RBI-single up the middle put Mississippi Delta back in front. A bases loaded walk to Easterling in the next at-bat also provided some cushion for the Trojans and a 5-3 advantage.

Pitching in relief of Luke, Logan mowed down the Rangers' lineup with four strikeouts, as Mississippi Delta came away with the nightcap victory and the split.

Northwest finished with six hits in the contest, led by two apiece from Hobson and Riggs. Murphy finished with three of the Trojans' nine hits.