WESSON - Tasked with facing a potent, eighth-ranked LSU Eunice program to open the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament on Wednesday afternoon, No. 13 Northwest took care of business with a 2-0 edge against the Bengals, staying in the winner's bracket.
Northwest got the best of the pitchers' duel between
Gabby Dickerson and LSU Eunice's Chloe Bennett, improving to 21-7 in the circle with eight strikeouts and no walks allowed. Bennett dropped to 19-7 for the Bengals, despite issuing nine strikeouts.
Both teams were limited to just four hits apiece, with the biggest one for Northwest coming in the form of
Maddie Brower's solo home run in the fourth. The Rangers would also add an insurance run in the top of the sixth, thanks to a sacrifice fly from
McKaylee Polk that scored
Laila Armstrong from third base.
With Northwest holding the lead entering the bottom of the seventh, LSU Eunice threatened to get on the board after a hit-by-pitch sent a runner to first. After a steal of second base, Brower iced the game with a diving catch in foul territory, before quickly tossing the ball to Polk at third base, who caught it and seemingly applied the tag. After a delayed ruling from the home plate umpire, Polk then tossed the ball over to second base, where the base umpire ruled the runner out, ending the game and securing the Rangers' victory.
With the win, Northwest improved to 32-13 on the season, the program's best single-season record since a 32-15 finish in 2010. The victory also marked the first time that the Rangers have opened the Region 23 Tournament in the winner's bracket. The Rangers will take on Northeast on Thursday at 5 P.M. after the Tigers' upset against Jones College, while LSU Eunice (32-19) will face Itawamba in a Thursday elimination contest.
