SENATOBIA - Behind a solid five innings from Judah Buckner, an impressive relief effort from Cade Greer and a save from James Smith, Northwest fought its way to a 2-1 win against Illinois Central on Friday afternoon.

Northwest improved to 7-0 on the season following the pitchers' duel, while Illinois Central fell to 0-1. 

Though Buckner found some trouble early on in each of the first three innings, the sophomore from Starkville steered his way out of a bases loaded jam in the second and kept the Cougars off the board in the first and third innings. He then sent Illinois Central down in order in both the fourth and fifth innings, finishing the day with six strikeouts against two walks, but no runs surrendered.

Meanwhile, Illinois Central had its own ace dealing through the first four innings. Nick Hainline successfully retired the Rangers 1-2-3 across the first, third and fourth innings, while stranding two Northwest runners in the second.

However, Hainline found trouble in the fifth inning, as Cade Leatherwood led off the frame by reaching on an infield error. With one out, Matthew Roncalli was walked and Dawson Griffin loaded the bases with a single to left field.

Hainline would then surrender his first run after hitting Cy Craig with the bases loaded, a play that was followed by Jacob Hill's sac fly RBI to right field, giving Northwest the 2-0 advantage.

Illinois Central was far from finished though, as Buckner exited the game prior to the start of the sixth inning. Reliever Tripp Hardin entered and got two outs behind him, but Josh Heyder got the Cougars on the board with a solo homer to left center, cutting the deficit to one.

It was at that point that Greer helped change the game, shifting the momentum back to the Rangers. The freshman from Olive Branch ended the inning on an infield pop-up and retired the Cougars in order over the next two frames, keeping the lead in tact for Northwest.

After Greer took care of the first Cougars' batter in the top of the ninth, Smith was brought in to face Heyder and close out the win. Despite allowing back-to-back singles, the former Ole Miss signee caught Camden Porter in a groundout and then slammed the door for good with his strikeout of Hunter Cooley, earning the save and preserving the close win for the Rangers.

Illinois Central edged Northwest 5-4 in total hits, but the Cougars' costly error in the fifth was part of the difference-maker in the Rangers' victory. Heyder finished 2-for-4 to lead the Cougars at the plate, while Peyton Martin's 2-for-4 effort accounted for half of the hits for Northwest.

Both teams will play a doubleheader at Jim Miles Field on Saturday afternoon, with the first pitch set for 1 P.M. Fans unable to attend can watch all the action on Ranger TV (nwccrangers.com/watch). Read Full Article