SENATOBIA - Things did not go as planned for Northwest in its season-opening doubleheader on Friday, as the Rangers issued 20 walks and were held to seven combined runs in a pair of 8-4 and 14-3 losses to Southwest Tennessee.
Northwest surrendered four runs apiece in the fourth and sixth innings of the first game, later allowing an eight-run second inning in the nightcap. Southwest Tennessee improved to 2-5 on the season with the sweep, as the Rangers dropped to 0-2.
Northwest will have a quick turnaround on Saturday, traveling to USA Stadium in Millington to take on Lake Land College and Glen Oaks in a pair of noon and 2:30 P.M. start times.Â
Game 1 - Southwest Tennessee 8, Northwest 4
After starting off with a quick 3-0 lead through three innings, Northwest watched as Southwest Tennessee evaporated the deficit with a four-run frame in the fourth and another four-run spot in the sixth, as the Saluqis earned an 8-4 victory.
Northwest started out hot in the opening inning, as
Brayden Sanders kept the Saluqis off the board in the top of the first and the next two innings after.
Ryan Lee got things started in the bottom of the first, as his RBI-double to left brought in
Caleb Hobson for the Rangers' first run.
Connor Spencer would make it a 2-0 game with his RBI-single to third and an RBI-groundout from
Landon Rogers gave the Rangers the early advantage.
However, the tables would turn in the top of the fourth, as the Saluqis reached base on two leadoff errors. A walk loaded the bases in the next at-bat and a hit-by-pitch allowed Southwest Tennessee to plate its first run.
Despite gaining two quick outs on the next at-bats, things got worse for the Rangers in the fourth, as Anthony Zarlingo's RBI-single to left brought the Saluqis within a run. A passed ball on the next at-bat tied the game and another hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded gave Southwest Tennessee the 4-3 lead.
Northwest responded with a run in the bottom half of the fourth, as
Tyler Byrd scored from third on a sac bunt. Unfortunately, that would be the final Ranger runner to cross the plate, as a scoreless fifth inning soon gave way to another four-run frame in the sixth from Southwest Tennessee.
Trailing 8-4, the Rangers were unable to cut into the deficit thanks to a solid relief effort from Dawson Hargrove, who would be credited with the victory.
Northwest out-hit the Saluqis 7-5 in the loss, with both Hobson and
Wesley Lester finishing 2-for-3 from the plate. Lee, Rogers and Spencer each finished with one hit and one RBI apiece.
Despite a strong fifth inning of relief, Northwest reliever
Jake Savage was handed the loss, finishing with four runs allowed and two walks. Sanders tossed four strikeouts in his first collegiate start, while
Zach Beasley shut down the Saluqis with five strikeouts over the final two frames.
Game 2 - Southwest Tennessee 14, Northwest 3 (6 inn.)
An eight-run second inning helped Southwest Tennessee put the nightcap out of reach early, as the Rangers were run-ruled to end the day.
A pair of leadoff walks allowed the Saluqis to threaten early in the first inning, but
Zach Willingham helped Northwest shut the door and keep the visiting team off the scoreboard. However, a pair of walks and a two-run double to right center put Southwest Tennessee ahead 2-0 in the second inning with no outs.
After the Saluqis added another run off an error, an RBI-single from C.J. Thomas made it a 4-0 lead and prompted a pitching change to
Carson Kairit. The substitution did little to faze Southwest Tennessee, as a pair of RBI base hits made it a 6-0 advantage, followed by two wild pitches that brought in another pair of runners.
Northwest went down in order during the bottom of the second and Southwest Tennessee soured the mood even more with three runs in the third inning, burying the Rangers into an unfamiliar 11-0 deficit. Although Northwest got the bats going in the bottom of the third with RBIs from Hobson,
Brady Logan and
Benton Williams, the momentum ended with the Rangers still trailing 11-3.
Southwest Tennessee would plate another run in the fourth and with two more in the sixth, the Saluqis' 14-3 lead was enough to end the game in a run-rule.
Northwest was limited to just five hits in the contest, mostly in the third inning. Logan was the only Ranger to finish with multiple hits in the nightcap, going 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI, while Williams,
Hunter Cramer and
Dawson Griffin tacked on one apiece.
Southwest Tennessee outpaced the Rangers 10-5 in total hits, led by three from Tuane Cope and two apiece from Hammonds and Mitch Austin.
Colton Brumley pitched all six innings for the Saluqis, earning five strikeouts against two walks. Willingham was issued the loss for Northwest after 1.2 innings of action and six runs allowed.
