JACKSON, Tenn. - Behind a complete game shutout from
Zach Willingham in Game 1 and a three-run lead in the nightcap, Northwest earned its first sweep of the season with a pair of 5-0 and 5-2 victories at Jackson State (Tenn.) on Tuesday afternoon.
Northwest combined for 11 hits at the plate, improving to 6-6 on the season. Meanwhile, Jackson State fell to 5-5 overall.
Northwest will return to the friendly confines of Jim Miles Field on Friday, March 4 for a 2/5 P.M. doubleheader against Rend Lake. Coverage for both games will be available on Ranger TV (nwccrangers.com/watch) and Facebook Live.
Game 1 - Northwest 5, Jackson State 0
Sophomore pitcher Willingham tossed a career-best outing, improving his record to 5-2 and allowing only three hits in a complete-game victory for Northwest.
Northwest got two of its five runs in the top half of the first inning, as
Caleb Hobson stole third and scored on an errant throw from the catcher, followed by a sac fly from
Ryan Lee that allowed
Alan Kivett to score.
From there, the bats were mostly quiet for both teams across the next five and a half innings, partially due to Willingham's efforts on the mound. The Rangers were able to build some insurance runs in the top of the seventh, as
Landon Rogers sent a three-run double down the line in left field, giving Northwest a comfortable 5-0 advantage.
Aside from a two-out single, Willingham was untouchable in the bottom of the seventh, as Jackson State went down on a fielder's choice at third base for the final out.
Willingham struck out a career-high nine batters with no walks allowed, while Hobson led the charge at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance. Rogers,
Dawson Griffin and
Peeko Townsend finished with one hit each, with Townsend's resulting in a triple in the fourth inning.
Josiah Binford was responsible for two of the GreenJays' three hits, including a double. Taylor Sipes was dealt the loss on the mound, after allowing the Rangers' first two runs. Houston Kilpatrick tossed the final two innings of relief for Jackson State, striking out three batters.
Game 2 - Northwest 5, Jackson State 4
Jackson State used two runs in the third and fifth innings to keep things close, but
Connor Spencer shut down the GreenJays with five strikeouts over the final two innings to lift Northwest to the sweep.
Much like the first game, Northwest started out with a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, as an RBI-single from Rogers and a bases loaded walk to Griffin put two runners across the plate.
Mitch Sisk tied things up for Jackson State with his two-run homer in the bottom of the third, but the Rangers responded in the fourth with an RBI-single from
Brady Logan. He would later score on a wild pitch in the same inning, allowing Northwest to gain a 4-2 advantage on the GreenJays.
Griffin's RBI-single in the top of the fifth made it a 5-2 cushion for Northwest, only for Jackson State to tack on a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth and pull within a run.
From there, Spencer took over and allowed only a walk over the final two frames, earning his first collegiate save.
Josh Hill's solid two innings of relief earned him the win, pushing his season record to 1-0.
Logan Eldridge got the start for Northwest and lasted two full innings with three strikeouts, but the freshman issued three walks as well and allowed two Jackson State runs. Additionally, C.J. Lofton struck out three in the fifth for a complete inning of relief.
At the plate, Rogers led the Rangers with a 3-for-4 effort that included an RBI and a double. Griffin, Hobson and Logan accounted for the other three hits.
Jackson State starter Gavin Vaughn lasted three complete innings and struck out four batters, but allowed three walks that prompted a call to the bullpen. The GreenJays were held to just three hits at the plate.
