SENATOBIA - Big scoring innings were the story in Tuesday afternoon's doubleheader against No. 18 Itawamba, as Northwest fell by a pair of 8-2 and 12-1 finals.
Itawamba outscored the Rangers by a combined 20-3 total, pulling away in Game 1 with a pair of three-run frames in the sixth and ninth innings. In the finale, the Indians tacked on six runs in the third and four more in the fifth, holding the Rangers to a single run on four hits.
Northwest dropped to 22-25 overall and 10-16 in the MACCC, while Itawamba improved to 32-10 and 19-7 in conference play. The Rangers will close out the regular season on Friday, April 28 with Sophomore Day against third-ranked Pearl River, the defending NJCAA Division II champion.
Sophomore Day ceremonies will take place prior to first pitch, which is scheduled for 1 P.M. Both games against the Wildcats will be carried on Ranger TV.
Game 1 - #18 Itawamba 8, Northwest 2
Northwest hung around for five innings against the 18th-ranked Indians, but Itawamba scored three in the sixth and three more in the ninth, pulling away for the 8-2 victory.
Drew Capobianco got ICC on the board first with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning, marking the only run by either team for several frames. During the mostly-scoreless five innings,
Judah Buckner and Brady Davis battled in a pitcher's duel, with Buckner lasting six full frames and striking out three batters.
Itawamba began to break things open in the top of the sixth, when a leadoff walk to Will Verdung set up back-to-back RBI-doubles from Jaxin Settlemires and Bo Rock, pushing the lead to 3-0. Dre McCray then added a single through the left side, scoring Rock for the 4-0 Indians' lead.
Northwest answered with a run in the home half of the inning, thanks to a
Peyton Martin single to left that scored
Jacob Hill from third. However, the Rangers left two stranded on base, ending the rally.
Itawamba responded with a run in the top of the seventh off a Settlemires single to center with two outs, pushing the deficit to 5-1. The Indians would then put the game away in the ninth, adding three runs.
Buckner (2-3) tossed three strikeouts against three walks and four earned runs in the losing effort, while Davis went six full innings for the Indians, striking out four batters against two walks.
Mason Shropshire and
Blake Loper both pitched in relief for the Rangers, combining for three strikeouts over the final three frames.
At the plate, Itawamba outmatched the Rangers in total hits, 9-6. Hill led Northwest with a 2-for-5 effort, while Martin,
Cade Greer,
Dawson Griffin and
Cade Leatherwood finished with one each. Rock and Settlemires combined for six of the Indians' nine base hits.
Game 2 - #18 Itawamba 12, Northwest 1
Itawamba picked up 10 of its 12 runs in the third and fifth innings alone, as Northwest dropped the nightcap by a 12-1 final.
Verdung grounded out in the infield, but allowed Capobianco to score from third for the Indians' first run in the opening frame. Northwest responded back in the bottom of the second, thanks to a
Cy Craig sacrifice fly that allowed Martin to score from third and tie the score at 1-1.
Unfortunately, the game would not remain tied for long, as the Indians plated six runs on four hits in the top of the third. The big scoring inning started with a leadoff walk to Capobianco and another walk to Verdung, setting up Settlemires' RBI-single up the middle. Rock then sent another RBI-single to right-center, making it a 3-1 lead for the Indians.
Gray Bane then broke the game open for good, clearing the bases with a three-run double to left-center. Capobianco closed out the scoring barrage with a sacrifice fly to left field, stretching the Indians' advantage to 7-1.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Indians tacked on four runs in the top of the fifth to widen the gap to 11-1. The frame was led off by a solo homer from Bane, followed by a Matthew Martinolich single to left field and a two-run double from Settlemires. Itawamba added its final run in the top of the sixth and sent the Rangers down without a hit in the bottom of the seventh.
Ben Davis improved to 5-2 on the mound for the Indians, striking out six batters across six complete frames.
Connor McCaslin was handed the loss for Northwest, dropping to 2-2 on the season with seven earned runs allowed and five walks in 2.1 innings.
Rudy Baldwyn,
Scott Sharp and
Owen Bruce all saw relief action for the Rangers, with each pitcher earning one strikeout apiece. Bruce was the only one that didn't allow a run, as the sophomore threw the scoreless top of the seventh inning.
Itawamba finished with a 9-4 margin in base hits, led by two each from Bane, Martinolich and Settlemires. Northwest scattered all four of its hits throughout the lineup, with Greer,
Thomas Cheatham,
Tyler Pearson and
Eli Selby earning one apiece.
