OXFORD, Ala. - Behind a strong 5.2 innings of relief from pitcher
Meagan Allen and two home runs from
Molly Harris, No. 5 Northwest overcame an early 2-0 deficit to notch a 12-2 rout against sixth-seed LSU Eunice on Saturday afternoon.
In addition to the efforts from Allen and Harris, several other sophomore came up clutch to help the Rangers fight off elimination.
Saige Koczka went 4-for-4 at the plate, while
Kaitlyn Bednarek and
Maddie Brower finished with two hits apiece. Additionally,
Caylee Comer also went 1-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in, as Northwest improved its record to 39-14.
Similar to the previous battle between the two teams in the Region 23 Championship, LSU Eunice struck first with a pair of runs across the first two innings. The Rangers were able to keep the Lady Bengals scoreless in the third, entering the fourth inning within striking distance in a 2-0 deficit.
Northwest turned up the heat in the top half of the fourth, as Harris tied the game with a no-doubter to left field. Later, freshman
Anna Nickens delivered a two-run single with two outs to give the Rangers a 4-2 lead.
After Allen retired LSU Eunice in order to close the bottom of the fourth, Northwest tacked on two more runs in the fifth, thanks to an RBI-grounder from Comer and a two-out single up the middle by Bednarek. Allen would once again toss a scoreless frame in the bottom of the fifth, holding the Rangers' lead at 6-2.
However, Northwest was far from finished at the plate. After Harris delivered an RBI-single to center field, Comer smacked an RBI-single down the line in right field to stretch the lead to 9-2.
As Allen continued to work through the Lady Bengals' order, Northwest all but secured the win in the top of the seventh, as Harris smashed a three-run homer to right for her second home run of the game. LSU Eunice would get a double to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but the Rangers never allowed the Lady Bengals to rally.
Northwest outhit LSU Eunice 15-4 in the victory and Allen improved to 9-6 in the circle, collecting four strikeouts and allowing no runs.
Kylee Brown got the start and lasted 1.1 innings with a strikeout.
Another elimination matchup is in store for the Rangers later tonight at 8 P.M., featuring the winner of No. 1 Des Moines Area and No. 7 Kirkwood. That game will be carried on the
NJCAA Network.
