***This story has been updated to include NJCAA Pitcher of the Week honors***

JACKSON - When Northwest needed a reliever to help secure a pair of victories in a best-of-three Region 23 play-in series at Meridian, sophomore Connor Spencer answered the call.

Tuesday morning, the MACCC announced that Spencer had been voted for Pitcher of the Week accolades for his efforts in helping the Rangers upend No. 6 Meridian to claim a bid into the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament. Wednesday afternoon, the NJCAA followed suit, naming Spencer its national Pitcher of the Week, becoming the first Ranger this season to earn NJCAA player of the week honors.

After Northwest dropped Game 1 by a 10-3 final, Spencer helped preserve a 13-10 victory for the Rangers in Game 2 of the series, collecting a pair of strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth and leaving two Eagles stranded. 

With Northwest trailing 10-9 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning in a decisive third game of the series, Spencer entered in relief and shut down the Meridian offense, scattering six strikeouts over the final four innings and allowing just one Eagles' run. Meanwhile, the Rangers rallied back to force extra innings, with Wesley Lester smashing a grand slam in the top of the 10th inning, lifting Northwest to the 14-11 triumph.

Spencer, a Southeastern Louisiana signee, has pitched 23 innings of relief for the Rangers this season, posting a 2.31 earned run average with 47 strikeouts and six saves. He also owns a 2-2 win-loss record and has surrendered only six runs throughout the 2022 campaign.

Spencer is the second Northwest pitcher to garner MACCC Pitcher of the Week honors, joining fellow sophomore Colton Presley, who earned the award after his 13-strikeout effort against Mississippi Gulf Coast on March 20. 

Northwest (26-22) will compete in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament in Poplarville beginning with next Monday's matchup against No. 1-ranked Pearl River. For more details regarding the tournament, click here.