POPLARVILLE - For the first time since 2019, the Northwest baseball program is heading to the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament and now, the Rangers have learned how the bracket will shake out.

Northwest comes in as the final seeded team in the six-team tournament field, pitted against tournament host and top overall seed Pearl River in the first round. The game will take place Monday, May 16 at 3:30 P.M.

Northwest (26-22) split with the Wildcats during the regular season conference-opener in Poplarville, taking Game 1 by a 6-4 final, before dropping a 10-9 decision in the second contest. Pearl River was ranked No. 2 in the nation at that time and the Wildcats have since risen to No. 1 with a record of 36-10.

After struggling to get the bats going early in the season, the Rangers are now hitting .288 as a team, led by a .402 average from sophomore catcher Ryan Lee. The Cleveland, Tenn. native leads the team in home runs (15), RBIs (51) and is tied with Cameron Lancaster for first in doubles (11).

Lancaster, Caleb Hobson, Landon Rogers and Wesley Lester are all batting above .300, with Hobson and Rogers accounting for a team-best four triples apiece. Lester's 13 home runs have him second on the team and the sophomore slugger also owns 51 RBIs as well.

Though the Rangers have a higher team ERA than desired, the Northwest pitching staff has pieced it together on the mound, especially down the stretch of the regular season and into the postseason. Closer Connor Spencer played a pivotal role in securing the Rangers' two victories against Meridian, as the Southeastern Louisiana signee tossed 4.2 innings of relief, earning the Game 3 win and a save in Game 2.

Starters Zach Willingham and Colton Presley have guided the Rangers as well, with Willingham owning a 6-3 record, 2.38 ERA and a team-best 75 strikeouts. Presley, a native of Hernando, is also 6-2 on the season with 64 punchouts.

Pearl River is paced by a potent batting lineup, putting the Wildcats at a .326 team batting average. Seven players are batting at .300 or better, led by a whopping .462 average from Tate Parker, who has seven doubles, three triples, 15 home runs and 52 RBIs. Gabe Broadus is also hitting near .400 with nine doubles, 33 RBIs and a team-high 32 stolen bases.

On the mound, the Wildcats are well-balanced with five pitchers throwing 30 innings or more this season. Of that group, Turner Swistak and Cole Tolbert have been the most effective, with Swistak owning a team-high 49 strikeouts against nine walks and a 3.24 ERA. Tolbert has accounted for 40 strikeouts and a team-best three saves, while posting a 2.33 ERA.

Awaiting the winner of the Northwest-Pearl River matchup will be the winner of Hinds-LSU Eunice, with the winner's match scheduled for 3:30 P.M. on Tuesday, May 17. The loser of Northwest-Pearl River will have to fight through the loser's bracket the rest of the way, with the first elimination game scheduled for Tuesday at 12 P.M.

All games of the tournament will be carried at prccmedia.com/gold. Tickets can be purchased at prccathletics.com/tickets, with single-game tickets and day passes available. For more details, visit the Tournament Central page here.