SENATOBIA - Facing its toughest test of the season thus far against No. 7 Copiah-Lincoln, No. 4 Northwest rose to the occasion on Saturday afternoon, sweeping the Lady Wolves by a pair of 2-1 and 7-1 finals.
Northwest rallied from a close 1-0 deficit in the opener, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth, while
Gabby Dickerson provided a season-high 12 strikeouts in a complete game outing. In the finale, the Rangers broke a 1-1 tie with a five-run frame in the bottom of the third, providing enough separation away from the Lady Wolves the rest of the way.
Northwest finished with eight base hits in the Game 2 victory, while
Allyson Harrison went the distance with seven strikeouts against two walks and an earned run.
With the sweep, the Rangers improved to 15-1 on the season, marking the best start to a season since 2005. Northwest also jumped to 4-0 in conference play, as Copiah-Lincoln fell to 15-7 overall and 2-2 against MACCC competition.
Next up for Northwest will be a road doubleheader at Mississippi Delta on Tuesday, March 21. The Rangers will then travel to East Central on Saturday, March 25 at 12/2 P.M.
Game 1 - #4 Northwest 2, #7 Copiah-Lincoln 1
As expected, the opening game between two Top 10 programs turned out to be an instant classic and a memorable victory for Northwest.
Scoreless through four innings, Copiah-Lincoln took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth with back-to-back doubles from Belle West and Josie Meggs. After Northwest left two stranded in the bottom of the fifth, the Rangers responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, as a fielder's choice and a sac fly to right field helped two runs come across the plate.
After claiming the 2-1 lead, it was up to
Gabby Dickerson to protect the win for Northwest in the top of the seventh, and the sophomore ace did not disappoint. The Olive Branch native struck out the Wolves' leadoff batter and forced the second hitter into a foul pop-up to McKaylee "K.K." Polk at third base. Dickerson then closed out the game with a strikeout of West for the third and final out.
Dickerson finished with her complete game of the season, tossing 12 strikeouts against three hits, an earned run and a walk. At the plate,
Reese Vanlandingham went 2-for-3, while
Neely Cooper,
Allyson Harrison,
Kara Johnson and
Kaylee Owens each finished with a base hit.
To the Wolves' credit, Cara Biswell also performed well in the circle, finishing with eight strikeouts against six base hits, one earned run and a walk in six complete frames. Copiah-Lincoln was limited to three base hits, but all three were doubles.
Game 2 - #4 Northwest 7, #7 Copiah-Lincoln 1
Tied 1-1 entering the bottom of the third inning, Northwest took advantage of a pair of Copiah-Lincoln errors to scratch five runs across the plate to pull away for the 7-1 victory.
Kara Johnson put the Rangers on the board early with a triple to center, scoring Polk from first. The Wolves answered in the top of the second, thanks to an RBI-single to right field from Skyler Speights, tying the game.
After Vanlandingham led off the bottom of the third with a single, Owens reached on an error at second base, before advancing on a passed ball during Polk's at-bat. Polk was then walked to load the bases and Johnson provided the go-ahead run on a grounder to the shortstop.
However, Northwest was far from finished. With two outs on the board after Cooper's flyout to center field, a wild pitch scored Owens from third and an error on Nickens' bunt brought across another Ranger run, stretching the lead to 4-1. Harrison followed that up with an RBI-triple to center and an RBI-single from
Madeline Houk made it a 6-1 advantage.
Laney Waguespack entered in relief for Copiah-Lincoln and quieted the Northwest bats through her 3.1 innings pitched. However, the Rangers were able to add one more run in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to an RBI-double from Polk, while Harrison closed out the game in the top of the seventh by leaving the bases loaded for the Wolves.
Northwest outmatched the Wolves 8-5 in base hits, while Copiah-Lincoln committed three errors in the loss. Harrison went the distance in the circle, striking out seven batters against five hits, an earned run and two walks.
West was handed the loss for Copiah-Lincoln after allowing six runs, though only two were earned. Polk and Vanlandingham led the Rangers at the plate with two base hits apiece.
