SCOOBA - Offense was the story for No. 11 Northwest in Thursday's 13-9 and 14-3 sweep of East Mississippi on Thursday afternoon.

Northwest smashed six homers on the day, including two from Caylee Comer, to earn its first sweep against an MACCC opponent. The Rangers improved to 14-6 on the season and 4-4 in the conference, while EMCC dropped to 4-21 on the year and 0-6 in conference play.

Northwest matched its season-best hit total in Game 1 with 16, before surpassing that total in Game 2 with 17 hits. The Rangers' 14 runs in the nightcap also tied a season-high for total runs.

Next up for the Rangers is a road doubleheader at Meridian on Saturday, March 26. Game times are set for 1 and 3 P.M.


Game 1 - #11 Northwest 13, East Mississippi 9

Although the Lions gave Northwest a six-run scare in the bottom of the fifth, the Rangers' offense proved to be too much for East Mississippi's pitching staff in the 13-9 victory.

After a leadoff walk was issued to Saige Koczka in the top of the first inning, McKaylee Polk smacked a two-run homer to left center, putting the Rangers on the board with a quick 2-0 lead.

Northwest was held scoreless in the second inning, but made up for it with a five-run frame in the third, sparked by a two-run homer from Koczka. Maddie Brower followed with an RBI-single to center and Comer towered a two-run shot over the wall in left center to make it a 7-0 lead for the Rangers.

Northwest picked up three more in the fourth, thanks to a throwing error on a stolen base attempt by Koczka. The miscue allowed Laila Armstrong to score from third and Kaily Edwards sent a two-run homer to left in a pinch hit appearance, pushing the Rangers to a whopping 10-0 advantage.

East Mississippi picked up a pair of runs in the home half of the fourth to erase the shutout, but an RBI-double from Kaitlyn Bednarek and an RBI-single by Anna Nickens gave the Rangers the 12-2 advantage in the top of the fifth inning.

EMCC pulled back within four runs with the huge bottom of the fifth, but only after Northwest had pulled most of its starters. The Lions would tack on one more run in the sixth to make it a 12-9 ballgame, only for the Rangers to add an insurance run in the top of the seventh with Koczka's RBI-single.

Meagan Allen made sure there would be no rally from the Lions in the home half of the seventh, as the sophomore struck out the first two batters and sent the leadoff hitter down on a groundout to third, preserving the win for Northwest.

Northwest bested the Lions 16-9 in total hits with seven errors issued between the two teams. Koczka went 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs to lead the Rangers at the plate, while Comer went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and her first homer of the season. Additionally, Armstrong, Bednarek and Polk finished with two hits each.

Celeste Study went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs to help the Lions, while Jenna Kirkland finished with a double, a triple and an RBI.

Gabby Dickerson got the win in the circle, tossing seven strikeouts against a pair of walks. Allen was credited with the save after finishing off the final three frames, delivering five strikeouts with only two earned runs given up.

Laken Firth was handed the loss for East Mississippi after allowing the Rangers' first seven runs. Taylor Watkins tossed the final 4.1 innings with two strikeouts, but surrendered six runs.


Game 2 - #11 Northwest 14, East Mississippi 3 (6 inn.)

A back-and-forth ballgame after two innings soon became a blowout in favor of Northwest, as the Rangers scored three in the fifth inning and six more in the sixth to take a 14-3 run-rule victory.

Back-to-back RBI-singles for Koczka and Comer made it a quick 2-0 lead for the Rangers in the top half of the first inning, only for the Lions to roar back with two runs in the home half with a double from Study.

Northwest broke the tie with three runs in the top of the second, thanks to a two-run double from Koczka and an RBI-double from Polk, only for the Lions to answer back with a solo home run from Maggie Meadows that made it a 5-3 ballgame.

Neither team mustered any runs over the next two innings, but the Rangers broke away for good in the top half of the fifth. Comer's solo homer to left-center got things started for Northwest, while Armstrong and Kylie Gurley brought in two more runs on a single and a double, respectively.

Koczka led off the sixth inning with a bang, delivering a leadoff triple which was followed by Polk's two-run shot to right center. Singles from Armstrong, Bednarek and Gurley made it a 14-3 lead for Northwest, before Dickerson clinched the early win by sending the Lions down quietly in the home half of the inning.

Armstrong, Comer and Koczka finished with three hits at the plate, with Armstrong and Koczka providing three RBIs apiece. Koczka also came just shy of hitting for the cycle, earning a single, double and a triple in the nightcap.

Additionally, Bednarek, Gurley and Polk collected two hits apiece, while Dickerson delivered five strikeouts in six complete frames to earn the victory in the circle.

East Mississippi was held to just four hits in the loss, while Lauren Pickett was issued the loss after allowing five earned runs in 1.1 innings of work.  Read Full Article