Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PERKINSTON - Trailing 2-0 in Game 1, No. 9 Northwest rallied back with a pair of runs in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh, helping the Rangers to a 4-2 victory and a split at No. 20 Mississippi Gulf Coast on Saturday afternoon.

MGCCC got the best of the Rangers in Game 2 with a 3-0 victory, as Northwest moved to 12-6 overall and 2-4 against MACCC competition. The Rangers also finished 3-5 in the stretch of four doubleheaders against nationally-ranked opponents, earning splits against MGCCC, No. 12 Pearl River and No. 6 Kirkwood, while being swept by fifth-ranked Itawamba.

With the split, the Bulldogs moved to 12-13 on the season and 4-2 in conference play.

Northwest will resume its road swing on Wednesday, March 23 at East Mississippi (3-18, 0-4 MACCC). Times in Scooba are set for 1/3 P.M.


Game 1 - #9 Northwest 4, #20 Mississippi Gulf Coast 2

Northwest used nine hits and a seven-strikeout performance from freshman Gabby Dickerson to take a 4-2 rally in Game 1 at Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Mississippi Gulf Coast got on the board in the bottom of the second, scoring on a solo home run from Jovi Jones. The Bulldogs added one more in the third, thanks to a left-field single from Abbott Stafford, which put the Rangers in a 2-0 deficit.

Neither team would score over the next two innings, as Dickerson and Madisyn Cobbs sent both batting lineups down empty-handed. 

In the sixth inning, the Rangers finally struck back with a leadoff double from McKaylee Polk. Molly Harris then sent a towering shot over the wall in center field, tying the game at 2-2.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Laila Armstrong delivered a single up the middle and an error in left field allowed Saige Kockza to reach base and Armstrong to score, giving Northwest the 3-2 lead.

MGCCC would change pitchers after that, entering Jones to the circle. The change resulted in a single from Polk, scoring Koczka from second to send Northwest to the bottom of the seventh with the 4-2 advantage.

Dickerson sent the first two Bulldog batters back to the dugout in the bottom of the seventh and aside from a two-out single, the freshman closed the game out with a strikeout of K.K. Agner, preserving the victory for the Rangers.

Dickerson improved to 7-3 on the season with her 4.2 innings of relief, finishing with two hits and no walks or runs allowed. Kylee Brown was pulled after starting the first 2.1 innings, but not before striking out three batters against four walks.

Armstrong led the Rangers at the plate with a 3-for-4 effort, while Harris and Polk finished with two hits apiece. 

Cobbs lasted 6.2 innings for the Bulldogs and struck out six batters, before the Rangers rallied back.


Game 2 - #20 Mississippi Gulf Coast 3, #9 Northwest 0

Northwest was held to four hits in the nightcap as MGCCC pitcher Emaleigh Coates struck out eight batters in a 3-0 shutout loss for the Rangers.

Mississippi Gulf Coast scored in the bottom of the second on a bases-loaded single from Breanna Green and maintained the 1-0 lead until the sixth inning, when the Bulldogs plated two more in the bottom of the sixth.

Northwest had its chances to strike, but the Rangers were left stranded at third base in the second and fourth innings.