FULTON - Itawamba built sizable leads early in both games and withstood a Northwest rally in the opener, as the Rangers fell 8-7 and 5-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
ICC led 4-0 after five complete innings in Game 1 and built a 5-0 lead after two complete in the nightcap. The Rangers rallied back in Game 1 and used a four-run frame in the top of the ninth to take a 7-6 lead, only for the Indians to earn two more in the bottom of the ninth for the walk-off winner on a wild pitch.
Northwest dropped its third straight loss and fell to 11-9 overall (1-3 MACCC). The Indians improved to 9-7 on the season and 3-1 in conference play.
Next up for the Rangers is a home doubleheader against Mississippi Gulf Coast on Saturday, March 19 at 2/5 P.M. Both games will be carried live on Ranger TV (nwccrangers.com/watch) and Facebook Live.
Game 1 - Itawamba 8, Northwest 7
Despite being held scoreless until the top of the sixth, the Rangers rallied back to take a 7-6 lead entering the bottom of the ninth, only for ICC to win the game on a bases loaded walk and a wild pitch.
Itawamba struck first with an RBI-single up the middle from Blaine Ware in the home half of the third and the Indians used a three-run fifth inning to earn a 4-0 advantage.
Northwest finally created some runs in the top of the sixth, thanks to a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch on
Alan Kivett's at-bat and
Ryan Lee's sac fly to right, allowing the Rangers to slice the Indians' lead in half. However, Bryce Capobianco gave back the two runs in the bottom half of the inning, scoring Riley Davis and Will Verdung on a two-run single to right field.
Lee brought another run on the board in the top of the eighth, cutting the Indians' lead back in half at 6-3 with his sac fly to center.
Jaylon Buckley would then keep Itawamba's bats at bay in the home half of the inning, keeping Northwest within striking distance.
Down to its last two outs in the top of the ninth, Northwest answered back in a big way, as
Dawson Griffin and
Brady Logan delivered back-to-back singles to pull the Rangers within 6-5.
A passed ball and an intentional walk helped load the bases, allowing Northwest to tie the game on Kivett's groundout to short. Coleman Haltom's wild pitch would bring in the leading run from third, pushing the Rangers ahead for the first time.
Unfortunately, the lead would be short-lived for the Rangers. With an out on the board, a hit-by-pitch and two walks loaded the bases for the Indians and a bases-loaded walk tied the game at 7-7. The game-winning run came in the next at-bat off a wild pitch, scoring Drew Capobianco for the walk-off winner.
Northwest was outhit 11-6 in the contest, led by a 2-for-4 effort from
Caleb Hobson. Kivett, Lee and Logan provided two RBIs apiece in the loss.
Connor Spencer (1-1) was handed the loss after issuing three walks in his 0.1 innings of relief.
Zach Willingham lasted 4.1 innings in his start, striking out two batters against three walks and three earned runs allowed.
Brady Davis threw six solid innings for Itawamba, striking out five batters and surrendering two earned runs late in his outing. Coleman Haltom got the win in relief, improving his record to 1-1 on the mound.
Davis went 3-for-5 at the plate to lead the Indians, followed by two hits each from Capobianco, Verdung and Ware.
Game 2 - Itawamba 5, Northwest 1
All of Itawamba's damage at the plate came in the first two innings, as the Rangers were held to just two hits in the loss.
Davis got the scoring started in a three-run first inning for the Indians, reaching on a fielder's choice and scoring Terris Meeks from third. Matthew Martinolich would knock in two more runs on a his RBI-single to right field, pushing Northwest into an early 3-0 deficit.
A double from Meeks and sac fly from Davis made it a 5-0 lead for the Indians in the second, but ICC was shut down with three scoreless innings of relief from C.J. Lofton and another from
Dalton Henley.
Meanwhile, the Rangers struggled to come up with anything at the plate, until
Peeko Townsend's bloop single in the top of the fifth. The lone highlight of the night came in the sixth with Lee's solo homer to left center.
Northwest was outhit 7-2 in the nightcap, with
Logan Eldridge (1-1) allowing five hits in a shortened two-inning start.
Roe Ketchum got the win on the mound for the Indians, tossing a complete game with 12 strikeouts and three walks allowed.
