Box Score DECATUR - A three-run homer from Peyton Mills put Northwest on top early, but a big seventh inning allowed East Central to rally back for a 5-4 victory in Friday evening's opening contest of the Region 23 Qualifying Series.

With the loss, the Rangers fell to 24-17 overall and must win two games on Saturday in order to advance to the upcoming Region 23 Tournament in Poplarville. One loss on Saturday would end the season entirely.

Mills' three-run shot put Northwest ahead in the top of the first, but the Warriors responded in the home half of the inning with a two-run homer from Jesse Boydstun, slicing the lead to one.

A solo homer from Ty Leatherwood got the Rangers going again in the top of the second, but neither team could string anything else together for the next four innings.

With Northwest unable to expand its 4-2 lead, the host Warriors finally struck back in the bottom of the seventh, as Clayton Cook's solo homer cut the Rangers' lead back down to one. Boydstun would then tie the contest and a passed ball allowed East Central to score the go-ahead run.

For a minute, the Rangers threatened again in the top of the eighth with a leadoff double from Caleb Hobson. Although the speedy freshman would advance to third with no outs, reliever Walker Johnson would check in for the Warriors, shutting down two Northwest batters and leaving Hobson stranded at third.

After leaving East Central scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, Northwest went down in order in the top of the ninth, sealing the Game 1 decision for the Warriors.

Both teams compiled seven hits apiece, as Hobson led the Rangers with his 2-for-4 effort at the plate. Boydstun and Cook combined for five of East Central's seven hits on the evening.

Hammer Franks was handed the loss for Northwest, despite earning four strikeouts in 6.1 innings. The Mooreville native allowed all five Warrior runs, with one unearned.

Jake Savage and Will Logsdon combined for 1.2 innings of relief, with both players finishing with a strikeout apiece.

Ervin Simmons got the start for the Warriors, but was pulled after allowing all four Northwest runs in the first two innings. Hayden West then delivered a seven-strikeout performance over 5.1 innings, earning the win before giving way to Johnson's save effort in the eighth.

Game 2 between the Warriors and Rangers is set for a 2 P.M. first pitch in Decatur. If necessary, the third and deciding game will be played about 30 minutes following the conclusion of the afternoon matchup.

Both games of the series will be streamed on eccclive.com/gold-channel. Live stats for today's games will also be available on nwccrangers.com.