MERIDIAN - A tight 3-3 contest went off the rails for Northwest entering the seventh inning, as a big six-run frame allowed Meridian to pull away for the eventual 10-3 victory on Thursday evening's series opener of the NJCAA Region 23 Play-In.
Meridian outhit Northwest 11-8 in the victory, effectively erasing what was a pitchers' duel between the two teams through the first six innings. With the loss, the Rangers dropped to 24-22 on the season as Meridian jumped to 34-11 overall.
Northwest got the bats popping over the first few innings, out-hitting the Eagles 5-1 at one point. Chandler Cline got Meridian on the board in the second inning, only for
Landon Rogers to the game at 1-1 on his RBI-groundout in the top of the third.
A solo homer from Jalen Cowan helped Meridian retake a 2-1 lead in the home half of the third inning and an error in the fifth helped the Eagles to a 3-1 advantage. The lead would be short-lived for a moment though, as
Ryan Lee's two-run homer in the sixth tied the game at 3-3.
Meridian drastically turned the tables in the seventh, loading the bases with no outs after a hit-by-pitch and a pair of singles. The Eagles' go-ahead run would score on a bases-loaded walk and Cline's two-run double to left center pushed Meridian to a 6-3 advantage.
Struggles continued to mount for Northwest, as the Eagles continued to tack on runs throughout the seventh inning. After once again loading the bases, a hit-by-pitch and a walk plated two more for Meridian and an RBI-single from Cowan helped Meridian to a 9-3 lead.
Northwest stranded a run to end the top of the eighth and Andin Johnson's single to center helped add an insurance run for the Eagles in the home half of the inning. Meridian would then close things out in the ninth inning and left two Rangers stranded.
Lee and
Caleb Hobson led the Rangers with two hits apiece, with Lee accounting for two of the three runs batted in.
Josh Hill (3-1) was handed the loss after giving up the go-ahead run and three more in the seventh, finishing with a strikeout and a walk.
Zach Willingham carried Northwest through six innings, tossing eight strikeouts against five walks. Freshmen
Jaylon Buckley and
Logan Eldridge combined for the final two innings of relief, finishing with a combined two strikeouts and four walks.
Cole Boswell tossed seven innings for Meridian, earning the victory after dishing 10 strikeouts against two walks. Cowan's 3-for-5 effort led the Eagles at the plate, while Braden Luke also finished with a 2-for-4 performance.
Northwest and Meridian will square off again for Game 2 of the NJCAA Region 23 Play-In on Friday afternoon at 3 P.M. The Rangers will need a victory to keep their season going and force a third and decisive Game 3.
Coverage for tomorrow's game, as well as Saturday's potential contest, can be found on
mcceagles.live.
