SENATOBIA - Northwest surrendered 10 runs in the fourth and fifth innings of the opener and East Mississippi limited the Rangers to just two hits in the nightcap, as the Lions took a 10-5 and 7-1 sweep on Wednesday afternoon.
Northwest got eight hits at the plate in Game 1, but the Rangers' pitching staff struggled in both contests, dropping the team's overall record to 12-12 on the season (2-6 MACCC). East Mississippi bolstered its record to 10-9 on the year and 5-1 in the conference.
Next up for the Rangers will be a Saturday showdown against No. 7 Meridian on March 26. The conference doubleheader is scheduled for 2/5 P.M. at Jim Miles Field, with both games carried on Ranger TV (nwccrangers.com/watch).
Game 1 - East Mississippi 10, Northwest 5
A 3-0 Northwest lead evaporated with a four-run frame from East Mississippi in the top of the fourth, and the Lions would add six more in the fifth to take the 10-5 opener.
EMCC's most notable highlight came on a three-run homer from Kade Shannon in the top of the fifth, which pushed the Lions' newfound lead to seven runs.
Things got off to a hot start for the Rangers in the first two innings, as
Wesley Lester put Northwest on the board with two runs on a single to right-center.
Jaylon Buckley made it a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third, thanks to an RBI-double to center field.
East Mississippi began to claw back in the top of the fourth with a two-run single from Shannon and the Lions took the 4-3 lead on another two-run single from Coby Holmes. The Lions pushed their lead to 5-3 in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk, then got the rest of their runs on a two-run single from Trey Trosclair and the three-run homer from Shannon.
Northwest cut the lead in half on a two-run double in the seventh from
Cameron Lancaster, but that's as close as the Rangers would come after Jonah Caskey tossed the final three innings with two strikeouts.
East Mississippi outhit the Rangers 10-8 in the opener, led by two apiece from Shannon, Trosclair and Wesley Sides.
Caleb Hobson led the charge at the plate for Northwest, finishing 3-for-5, while Buckley, Lancaster and
Ryan Lee knocked in doubles for the Rangers.
Zach Willingham (2-3) was handed the loss for Northwest, lasting 3.2 innings with four strikeouts against three walks and four earned runs allowed. C.J. Lofton surrendered the next six runs in relief, while
Zach Beasley and
Judah Buckner posted 4.2 combined innings of relief with four strikeouts and no runs allowed.
Blake Wren was credited with the win for the Lions, improving his record to 2-0 on the season. Wren struck out eight batters against four walks in six complete frames.
Game 2 - East Mississippi 7, Northwest 1
East Mississippi took an early 3-0 lead and never looked back in the nightcap, as Northwest was swept with the 7-1 loss in Game 2.
EMCC plated two runs in the top of the first and an RBI-single from Blayze Berry in the second pushed the Rangers into the three-run deficit. Lester's third inning RBI-groundout was the only highlight at the plate for Northwest, as the Rangers were held to only two hits.
Leading 3-1 entering the fifth, the Lions slowly began to put the game out of reach with a solo homer from Sides and an RBI-single from Holmes. A wild pitch and a passed ball gave East Mississippi two more runs in the sixth for the 7-1 advantage.
John Luke Marlin (2-1) was handed the loss for Northwest, despite tallying five strikeouts in four complete innings.
Josh Hill and
Connor Spencer combined for six strikeouts in three innings of relief.
Andrew Lewis picked up the win for East Mississippi, tossing eight strikeouts in five complete frames of relief work for the starter Gabe Garner, who was pulled after two innings and three walks issued.
