SENATOBIA - Freshman pitcher Dalton Henley helped Northwest to a 9-2 victory in Game 1, but the Rangers fell 4-2 in the nightcap, splitting a Monday doubleheader with Freed-Hardeman JV at Jim Miles Field.

Northwest went to 4-6 on the season with the split, as the Lions improved to 1-5 overall. The Rangers combined for 13 hits on the afternoon, including seven in the Game 1 victory.

Sophomore Wesley Lester finished with three hits across the doubleheader, including his second homer of the season in Game 2. Freshman Jaylon Buckley also struck out six batters in three complete innings during the nightcap.

Northwest will have a quick turnaround, traveling to Jackson State (Tenn.) on Tuesday, March 1 for a 1/4 P.M. doubleheader. Due to overlapping events, no broadcast will be available for tomorrow's games.


Game 1 - Northwest 9, Freed-Hardeman JV 2

Leading 2-1 entering the bottom of the third, the Rangers broke the game open with a four-run frame and added two more in the fourth to cruise to the 9-2 victory.

Ryan Lee got the Rangers on the board in the bottom of the first, scoring Caleb Hobson and Alan Kivett on a two-run single up the middle. Freed-Hardeman JV would add a run back in the second on a sac fly to left field, only for Northwest to get an RBI-single from Lester, a two-run double from Landon Rogers and a scoring error in the third, pushing the lead to 6-1.

Lester struck again for the Rangers in the bottom half of the fourth, scoring Kivett on an RBI-double to left center. Northwest would get another run in the fourth when Lee scored off a wild pitch, extending the lead to 8-1.

Northwest would score one more time in the fifth inning, as Thomas Cheatham stole home to make it a 9-1 advantage. Although the Lions would later tack on a run in the sixth inning, the Rangers were never in danger of losing their grip, as Henley, Zach Beasley and Blake Loper remained in control on the mound.

Though Henley did not earn the win, the Lewisburg product tossed three strikeouts in three complete frames in his Northwest debut. Beasley came in for the next two innings, earning the win in relief with three strikeouts and no walks allowed.

Loper closed out the final two innings for Northwest, tossing one strikeout against a walk. 

At the plate, Lester went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, while Cheatham, Kivett, Lee, Rogers and Dawson Griffin added one hit apiece. Freed-Hardeman JV was held to just two hits, both from Rudy Tucker.

Matthew Riley was handed the loss for the Lions, who allowed five earned runs despite striking out five batters and allowing one walk through four innings. 


Game 2 - Freed-Hardeman JV 4, Northwest 2

A three-run fifth inning made the difference for Freed-Hardeman JV in the nightcap, as Northwest surrendered a 2-1 lead in the loss.

Northwest led 2-0 after the first inning, thanks to an RBI-grounder from Kivett and a solo home run from Lester. However, the Rangers would only get three hits over the next six innings, as the Lions' duo of Shelton Blackwell and Riley Hamilton silenced the bats for Northwest.

A wild pitch allowed Freed-Hardeman JV to get on the board in the second inning, but a solo homer from Luke Willard tied the score in the top of the fifth. Another wild pitch allowed the Lions to take a one-run lead and Tucker's RBI-single to center made it a 4-2 deficit for the Rangers.

Northwest had chances to at least force a tie, as Lee and Caleb Hobson delivered singles in the fifth and sixth innings. However, the Rangers would leave three runners on base over the next two innings before going down swinging in the seventh, suffering the loss to the Lions.

Hobson finished 2-for-4 to lead the Rangers in the loss, while Lee, Lester, Hunter Cramer and Peeko Townsend tallied one hit apiece. In comparison, the Lions finished with just three hits on the evening.

Blackwell got the win for the Lions, despite walking four batters over four complete innings. Riley Hamilton picked up the save with his four-strikeout performance in two innings of relief.

For the Rangers, Buckley's six-strikeout performance got Northwest through the first three innings. Carson Kairit was handed the loss after allowing three earned runs in 1.1 innings of relief. Read Full Article