SOUTHAVEN - Behind 22 combined hits and strong outings on the mound by Brayden Sanders and Zach Willingham, Northwest cruised to a pair of 13-0 and 14-0 victories in Thursday's doubleheader against Coahoma.

Both games were played at Snowden Grove Park in Southaven due to unplayable conditions in Clarksdale, but technically served as the Rangers' second road sweep of the season and the first one against an MACCC opponent.

Northwest improved to 17-15 on the season and 7-9 within the conference, placing the Rangers at 10th in the latest MACCC standings. Coahoma dropped to 7-17 overall and 2-12 against conference competition.

Next up for the Rangers is a road doubleheader at Hinds on Saturday, April 9. The Eagles are currently 11-5 in the MACCC and 18-12 overall, after sweeping nationally-ranked Meridian earlier in the week.

Game times in Raymond are slated for 2/5 P.M. with live coverage on hindsccsports.net. The Rangers will return to Jim Miles Field on Tuesday, April 12 against Holmes at 3/6 P.M.


Game 1 - Northwest 13, Coahoma 0

After holding a 1-0 lead through the first two innings, Northwest scored 12 runs over the next three frames to defeat Coahoma in run-rule fashion, 13-0.

Northwest left the bases loaded in the top half of the first, only to break through on the scoreboard with Tyler Byrd's sac fly to left field in the second inning. The Rangers turned on the jets in the third inning, as an RBI-double from Peeko Townsend, a triple from Landon Rogers and a passed ball allowed Northwest to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Meanwhile, Willingham mowed through the Tigers' lineup after issuing a leadoff single in the first. The Cleveland, Miss. native compiled five of his seven strikeouts in the first three innings, denying any thoughts of a Coahoma rally.

Northwest broke the game open for good in the top half of the fourth, as the Rangers led off with Byrd reaching on an error, Caleb Hobson reaching on a bunt single and Cameron Lancaster sending an RBI-double to center field. Ryan Lee's ensuing RBI-single and a series of wild pitches and passed balls made it an 8-0 advantage for the Rangers.

Northwest kept the runs coming in the fourth, adding two more on an RBI-single up the middle from Rogers and an RBI-groundout from Hunter Cramer, widening the gap to 10-0.

Another scoreless frame from Willingham kept the Tigers off the board and the Rangers put the game away in the top of the fifth, thanks to a bases-loaded walk, a balk and an RBI-single from Brady Logan. Jake Savage ended things for good with one inning of relief, capping off his outing with swinging strikeout for the third and final out of the contest.

Lancaster and Rogers led the Rangers with a pair of 2-for-3 performances at the plate, combining for three RBIs in the process. Bryland Skinner was responsible for the Tigers' only hit, a leadoff single in the bottom of the first inning.

Willingham improved to 4-3 on the mound with his four-inning start, tossing seven strikeouts with no walks allowed. Keshun Patterson (2-4) took the loss, collecting six strikeouts but allowing three walks and four runs (two earned). 


Game 2 - Northwest 14, Coahoma 0 (6 inn.)

A five-run outburst in the top of the first inning was matched with five runs in the top of the fifth, as Northwest took care of Coahoma in the nightcap, 14-0.

Coahoma surrendered two home runs to open things up, both being two-run shots from Rogers and Wesley Lester. Dawson Griffin then capped off the inning with an RBI-single to center, making it a quick 5-0 lead for Northwest.

Northwest was held scoreless in the second inning before earning another run in the top half of the third on Cramer's RBI-double to center. Hobson would then score from second on a groundout from Lancaster, making it a 7-0 advantage for the Rangers.

Cramer's bat provided another run for Northwest in the top of the fifth, as a sac fly scored Logan from third. Griffin would then deliver another RBI-single to the outfield, scoring Rogers for a 9-0 Ranger lead.

Coahoma remained scoreless through five innings, thanks to the efforts of Sanders (1-3), who collected his first win as a Ranger after striking out seven Tigers and allowing just two hits.

Northwest finished things off in the top of the sixth, as two errors by the Tigers' shortstop sent two runs across the plate. Thomas Cheatham later followed with an RBI-single through the right side and a two-run single by Lancaster brought the Rangers to its 14-run total.

Dalton Henley closed things out on the mound in the bottom of the sixth, shaking off a leadoff double to deliver a pair of strikeouts and the third out on a grounder to second.

Rogers once again led Northwest with a 3-for-4 effort and two RBIs, while Cramer and Griffin each finished 2-for-3. Coahoma scattered three hits throughout its batting order, with Zales Lewis and Erick Lopez each finishing with a double.

Ethan Kreyer (0-3) was handed the loss for Coahoma, after allowing nine runs on nine hits with five strikeouts issued.  Read Full Article