SENATOBIA - Though a thrilling comeback win in the opener started Sophomore Day on a high note, fourth-ranked Northwest would drop the nightcap, 5-4, finishing the day with a split against Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Northwest combined for 18 hits in the doubleheader, with 10 of those coming in the 10-9 victory in Game 1.
Kara Johnson finished a combined 3-for-5 at the plate, while
Madeline Houk and McKaylee "K.K." Polk each went 3-for-6, including home runs by both players.
In the circle,
Allyson Harrison pitched the final 2.2 innings of Game 1 to improve her season record to 9-2.
Gabby Dickerson dropped her first loss of the season during her relief appearance in Game 2, dropping to 14-1 for the season.
Despite not getting the sweep, Northwest moved its overall record to 30-4, marking back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time in program history. The Rangers also moved to 19-4 in the MACCC, matching last year's conference win total.
Meanwhile, Mississippi Gulf Coast moved to 33-17 on the season and 16-8 in the conference following the split.
Northwest will conclude the regular season with three straight road doubleheaders against nationally-ranked opponents. The Rangers will travel to No. 20 Itawamba on Tuesday, April 25 at 3/5 P.M., 10th-ranked Pearl River at 12/2 P.M. on Friday, April 28 and No. 7 Jones College on Tuesday, May 2 at 3/5 P.M.
Broadcast and coverage links for those doubleheaders are available on the softball schedule page of nwccrangers.com.
Game 1 - #4 Northwest 10, Mississippi Gulf Coast 9
Houk was the hero of Game 1 for Northwest, as the freshman from Pell City, Ala. smacked a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning that provided the go-ahead runs in the Rangers' 10-9 comeback.
Along with a solo homer from Polk one inning prior, Northwest finished with 10 base hits and rallied from the 8-4 deficit to secure the win against the hard-hitting Bulldogs' lineup. The solo blast from Polk marked her team-leading 20th home run, while the three-run shot from Houk marked just her second home run of the season.
Mississippi Gulf Coast jumped out to the 1-0 lead with a two-out solo blast from K.K. Agner in the top of the first inning, only for the Rangers to tie the game in the bottom of the first on Johnson's RBI-single to right center.
After Dickerson kept the Bulldogs off the board in the top of the second, the Rangers went ahead 2-1 off Harrison's RBI-single through the left side, scoring
Chloe Summerford from third. However, Mississippi Gulf Coast responded with a three-run frame in the top of the third, taking the 4-2 advantage after an RBI-single from Jorja Roberson and a two-run double from Agner.
Northwest continued the tug-of-war into the bottom of the third, as a leadoff walk to Polk and a single to Johnson set up an RBI-grounder from
Hayley Laurendeau. A passed ball from Jett Harrell then allowed Johnson to score from third, tying the game at 4-4.
Mississippi Gulf Coast once again regained the lead on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth, before adding three more runs in the fifth inning, setting up the 8-4 deficit.Â
From there, the back-and-forth battle shifted in favor of the Rangers, starting with Polk's solo homer in the bottom of the fifth. After Harrison kept the opponents off the board in the top of the sixth, a
Reese Vanlandingham double sliced the deficit down to 8-6, helping spark the Ranger rally.
Northwest kept the momentum going in the bottom of the sixth, as Johnson's sacrifice fly to left allowed Polk to score, trimming the Bulldogs' lead down to 8-7. With two outs and two runners on, Houk then delivered her momentous home run to give the Rangers the 10-8 lead.
Though Mississippi Gulf Coast made some noise in the top of the seventh and even scored another run, the Bulldogs lined out to center field and left two runners stranded, as Harrison preserved the victory for Northwest.
In her 2.2 innings of relief, Harrison allowed one earned run and only two walks, keeping the Rangers within striking distance. Dickerson started the contest, but was pulled after 4.1 innings with three strikeouts and seven earned runs allowed.
Harrell took a tough loss for the Bulldogs, dropping to 14-6 in the circle. The Clarksdale native struck out three batters, but surrendered four walks and nine earned runs through six full innings of work.
Mississippi Gulf Coast finished with a 14-10 margin in base hits, led by a 3-for-5 effort from Roberson and two hits each from Agner, Harrell and Breanna Green. Johnson and Polk each went 2-for-2 at the plate for Northwest, with six other players accounting for one hit apiece.
Game 2 - Mississippi Gulf Coast 5, #4 Northwest 4
Trailing 4-1 entering the bottom of the sixth, Northwest rallied back to tie the game heading into the seventh inning, only for Mississippi Gulf Coast to ultimately win the game on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the seventh.
Both teams went down scoreless in the first inning, but a three-run frame from Mississippi Gulf Coast in the second inning gave the Bulldogs the early 3-0 advantage. An error in the infield resulted in all three of the Bulldogs' runs coming unearned, as Harrell's double down the left field line cleared the bases.
Northwest responded with a run in the bottom of the second, as
Crista Wilson delivered an RBI-single through the left side that scored Summerford. However, the Bulldogs would answer yet again in the top of the third, as Agner scored on Ladner's double to right center.
Northwest was shutout over the next three innings, but found a spark in the bottom of the sixth with Johnson's one-out single to center field. After Houk followed with a single, Laurendeau was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
From there, Summerford scored Johnson from third on an RBI-groundout, before
Neely Cooper delivered a two-run double into left field in her pinch hit appearance. Houk and Laurendeau both scored on the play, tying the game at 4-4.
With one out in the top of the seventh, the Bulldogs responded with a single, a walk and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Roberson then drew a bases-loaded walk, allowing the go-ahead run to score, before MGCCC went down on back-to-back fielder's choice plays.
Harrell then came on to close out the game for the Bulldogs and promptly delivered three outs, denying Northwest a sweep in the home finale.
Northwest out-hit Mississippi Gulf Coast 8-6, with Houk going 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Rangers. Green led the Bulldogs' batting efforts with her 2-for-3 line.
