DECATUR - Saturday was a mixed bag for the fourth-ranked Northwest softball team, as the Rangers rolled to a 9-1 run-rule victory in the opener against East Central, before falling 4-3 in the finale to the Lady Warriors.
Northwest fell to 18-2 on the season with the loss, which was also the first one in conference play, dropping the Rangers to 7-1 against MACCC opponents. With the split, East Central moved to 21-10 overall and 6-2 in conference games.
Despite the split,
McKaylee "K.K." Polk looked as sharp as ever, finishing 4-for-6 at the plate with a double, a home run and five RBIs.
Kara Johnson also went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and an RBI.
In the circle,
Gabby Dickerson got the win in Game 1, delivering three strikeouts and allowing one earned run in a five-inning effort. The sophomore from Olive Branch improved her record to 8-0 on the season.
Next up for Northwest is a home doubleheader against Holmes, set for 2/4 P.M. on Wednesday, March 29. The Lady Bulldogs (17-11, 5-5 MACCC) are coming off a sweep at Mississippi Gulf Coast and split with the Rangers last season in Goodman.
Wednesday's games can be seen on Ranger TV (
nwccrangers.com/watch).
Game 1 - #4 Northwest 9, East Central 1 (5 inn.)
Nine runs in the top half of the first inning was all Northwest needed to set up the Rangers' sixth run-rule victory of the season, and the third in conference play.
After
Reese Vanlandingham and
Kaylee Owens both reached base on back-to-back walks, Polk brought her teammates across the plate with a two-run double to center field. An error on
Allyson Harrison's at-bat allowed Polk to score, stretching the lead to 3-0.
Disaster continued for East Central in the opening frame, as
Shelby Payne's sac fly allowed
Kara Johnson to score with two outs. Vanlandingham then scored Harrison on a single and an error on Owens' second at-bat scored
Crista Wilson and
Madeline Houk, making it a 7-0 advantage for Northwest.
However, the Rangers weren't done yet. With Polk up to bat for the second time, the sophomore from Senatobia knocked in two more runs on a single to center field, pushing the lead to a comfortable 9-0 lead.
Northwest was retired in order in the top of the second and a new East Central pitcher sent the Rangers down in order once again in the third. Meanwhile, the Lady Warriors finally struck in the bottom of the third, as Meadow Villar got her team on the board with a solo homer.
However, the lone run wasn't enough to faze Dickerson or the Rangers. Northwest kept the bats going and threatened to add to its lead in the fourth and fifth innings, leaving the bases loaded in the fifth. In the circle, Dickerson took care of the rest, sending the Lady Warriors down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth, preserving the run-rule.
Dickerson finished with three strikeouts and walked only one batter in her abbreviated complete-game effort. Rae Rae Evans was handed the loss for the Lady Warriors, after allowing eight runs on five walks in just 0.2 innings of work.
Northwest outhit East Central 6-3 in the win, while the Lady Warriors also committed four errors. Polk and Vanlandingham collected two base hits apiece, with Polk accounting for four RBIs.
Game 2 - East Central 4, #4 Northwest 3
East Central collected three of its four runs in the bottom of the third and withstood a furious Northwest rally, upsetting the Rangers in a 4-3 decision.
After a solid first inning from Harrison in the circle, the Lady Warriors threatened and left two stranded in the bottom of the second. East Central finally struck in the bottom of the third, thanks to a two-run double from Emmi Harkins and a triple from Janci Aube, pushing the Rangers into a 3-0 hole.
Owens responded in a big way, leading off the top of the fourth with a solo home run to right field. However, Northwest was unable to gather any more steam in the inning and entered the bottom frame, trailing 3-1.
Neely Cooper entered the circle to start the bottom of the fourth and retired the Lady Warriors in order. Emily Collins would do the same for East Central though, keeping her team ahead entering the bottom of the fifth.
A single to center from Harkins made it a 4-1 advantage for East Central in the fifth and the Lady Warriors successfully protected that lead until the top of the seventh. Facing the deficit with only three outs remaining, the Rangers refused to go quietly, staging a two-run rally in the top of the seventh.
Polk led off the frame with a solo homer to left field, her 14th home run of the season. Johnson followed with a solo shot of her own, bringing the Rangers within a run.
Anna Nickens did her part to keep the rally going, sending a single to right field and advancing to second on a wild pitch. However, Northwest grounded out to third base to end the game with a rare loss.
Harrison (5-1) was dealt her first loss of the season, going three full innings with four strikeouts and three runs on four hits allowed. Cooper tossed the final three frames in relief, earning two strikeouts against no walks and an earned run allowed.
Collins picked up the win for the Lady Warriors, striking out six Rangers and allowing five base hits and three earned runs.
Polk finished 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Rangers' batting efforts, while Aube, Harkins and Catherine Stroud finished with two base hits apiece for East Central.
