POPLARVILLE - After jumping out to an early 4-1 lead in the Region 23 Tournament opener at No. 1 Pearl River, the wheels came off for Northwest in the bottom of the fourth, as the Wildcats scored 16 runs en route to an 18-8 victory.

Northwest dropped to 26-23 on the season with the loss, while Pearl River improved to 37-10 overall. 

Northwest was the first to strike with a three-run frame in the top half of the first, sparked by a solo homer to left center from Landon Rogers. Peeko Townsend then mashed a two-run double with two outs, helping the Rangers to the 3-0 advantage.

Zach Willingham made quick work of the Wildcats in the bottom of the first, but Turner Swistak did the same on the mound for Pearl River in the top half of the second inning. Logan Walters' RBI-single up the middle got the Wildcats on the board in the bottom of the second, cutting the Rangers' lead to 3-1.

Ryan Lee responded in the top of the third with a solo homer to center field, his 16th of the season. That allowed Northwest to gain a run back for a 4-1 lead.

Neither team scored again until the bottom of the fourth inning and that's when the Wildcats caught fire. Matt Mercer's RBI-double to center and Walters' RBI-single brought Pearl River back within a run, before a fielder's choice scored Mercer from third for the tying run.

However, Pearl River was far from finished in the fourth. Three RBI-singles, a pair of doubles, two bases loaded walks, a groundout and a two-run homer flipped the script in a big way, sending the Wildcats ahead with a 17-4 advantage.

Northwest would gain some runs back in the top of the fifth, as singles from Rogers and Cameron Lancaster were coupled with a Wesley Lester walk to load the bases. Townsend then smashed a grand slam to right field for his 10th homer of the season, bringing the Rangers back within 17-8.

Once again, the Pearl River bats found a way to close it out in the bottom of the fifth. D.K. Donaldson's leadoff single was followed by a hit-by-pitch in Mercer's at-bat, and Walters' double through the left side scored the 18th run for the Wildcats, ending the game in a five-inning run-rule.

Pearl River outhit Northwest, 13-9, with Rogers and Townsend leading the Rangers with a pair of 2-for-3 efforts at the plate. The Wildcats were led by Donaldson's 3-for-4 performance.

Willingham (6-4) was handed the loss for the Rangers after surrendering six runs in three complete innings. The sophomore tossed three strikeouts against two walks, while relievers Josh Hill, Zach Beasley, C.J. Lofton and Jake Savage combined for four strikeouts.

Swistak collected the win for the Wildcats, improving to 6-0 on the mound with four strikeouts against one walk issued. 

Northwest will now have to fight off elimination throughout the rest of the tournament, starting with a noon contest on Tuesday against Jones College. The Bobcats (31-16) took an 8-4 loss at the hands of East Mississippi on Monday evening.

Tomorrow's game between the Rangers and the Bobcats will be carried on prccmedia.com/gold/. Tickets for tomorrow's contest can be purchased online at prccathletics.com/tickets. Read Full Article