FULTON - After falling behind 6-4 in a rough bottom of the fifth inning, Northwest put the rally caps on to score a combined eight unanswered runs, as the Rangers fought off elimination with a 12-6 victory against Northeast.

With the win, Northwest captured its first postseason victory since April 26, 2015, when the Rangers took a 3-1 decision against Pearl River in Game 2 of a best-of-three series in the MACJC Playoffs.

Northwest clobbered 14 hits in the contest, marking the 21st game this season to feature 10 or more hits. Kaylei Peterson also delivered a solid outing in the circle, recovering from a shaky fifth inning to improve her record to 10-8 in the circle.

Northwest struck first in the top of the first inning, as the Rangers loaded the bases for MyCala Helms. After Helms was hit by a pitch to score the first run, Peterson provided a two-run single to make it a 3-0 lead.

A pair of scoreless frames for the Rangers soon gave way to a little Northeast momentum in the bottom of the third, as Charly Clanton led off things with a triple for the Lady Tigers. Tori Harrison would then fly out to left, scoring Clanton from third, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

Saige Koczka provided the Rangers a little separation with her sac fly in the fourth, only for Northeast to respond with a pair of runs in the bottom frame, closing the gap to 4-3. 

Things would get dicey for Northwest in the bottom of the fifth, as the Lady Tigers used a three-run frame to take a 6-4 advantage. After a brief exit, Peterson re-entered the game for the Rangers and delivered the final two outs on a 1-3 double play.

Northwest quickly recovered with a massive five-run frame in the top of the sixth, led off by a single from Oakley Laughter. Laila Armstrong followed with a double to right center, scoring pinch runner Mary Britton Faulkner from second. Koczka then followed with an RBI-single to tie the game at 6-6.

A two-run homer from Brower gave the Rangers an 8-6 advantage and an error at short allowed another run to score, lifting Northwest to a 9-6 lead.

Peterson and the Northwest fielders sent the Lady Tigers down in order in the bottom of the sixth, fueling the momentum for a three-run frame in the top of the seventh. Armstrong led things off with a single and Koczka followed with an RBI-double, before a wild pitch and an RBI-single from Brower pushed Northwest to its 12-6 final score.

Peterson allowed three earned runs over 6.2 innings, but struck out two batters and allowed no walks. Cassidy Duskin led Northeast with three strikeouts in five full innings.

Armstrong and Brower led Northwest with three hits apiece, while Koczka and Peterson each finished with two hits. Harris, Laughter, Caylee Comer and Morgan Langley also provided one hit each for the Rangers.

Northeast finished with nine hits scattered across its lineup. Clanton was the only Lady Tiger with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3 on the day.

With the win, Northwest improved to 19-15 overall, while Northeast concluded its season with a 23-19 record. The Rangers will take on #9 Copiah-Lincoln on Friday at 2:30 P.M. in another elimination contest, with the winner punching its ticket to next week's NJCAA Region 23 Tournament in Eunice, La.

Tomorrow's battle with the Lady Wolves will be streamed once again on letsgoicctv.com/red. Live stats will not be available due to conflicting athletic events.