CLARKSDALE - Although it might have taken longer than expected to pull away from Coahoma in Tuesday's series opener, second-ranked Northwest plated six runs in the top of the seventh to earn an 11-2 win, followed by a 14-0 run-rule victory in the finale.

Northwest combined for 20 base hits in the sweep, as the Rangers moved to 24-2 on the season and 13-1 in the MACCC, marking the best overall and conference starts in program history. Coahoma dropped to 5-23 overall and 0-16 in conference play.

Game 1 saw Gabby Dickerson set a new career-high of 15 strikeouts, which is also the most by any Northwest pitcher in a single game since at least 2010. The win helped Dickerson remain unbeaten on the season, improving her individual record to 11-0 in the circle.

In the finale, pitchers Allyson Harrison and Neely Cooper combined for a five-inning shutout and no-hitter, with Harrison tossing three strikeouts over four innings. The sophomore from Mantee improved to 8-1 in the circle, while Cooper raised her season strikeout total to 26.

Late Tuesday evening, it was announced that the Rangers' upcoming doubleheader at No. 9 Jones College has been moved to Tuesday, May 2, due to forecasted inclement weather throughout the remainder of the week. As a result, Northwest will now turn its attention to a four-doubleheader homestand, beginning Wednesday, April 12 against 10th-ranked Northeast. The Lady Tigers (33-5, 11-3 MACCC) are most recently coming off a sweep of East Mississippi.

Wednesday's doubleheader is scheduled for 3/5 P.M. on Ranger TV. Live stats will also be available to follow here.


Game 1 - #2 Northwest 11, Coahoma 2

Leading 5-2 entering the seventh inning, Northwest finally broke away for good with a six-run frame, earning the nine-run victory against Coahoma.

Northwest tacked on three runs in the top of the first, thanks to a three-run homer from McKaylee "K.K." Polk, her 17th home run of the season. The Rangers were held scoreless until the fourth inning, when Crista Wilson knocked in Cooper on an RBI-double, followed by an RBI-single from Bailey Russell, moving the score to 5-0.

Northwest struggled to find runs in the next couple of innings, but Dickerson took care of business in the circle, keeping Coahoma off the board for five complete frames. Her lone blemish came in the bottom of the sixth, when Ziay Graves sent a two-run home run to right field, bringing the Lady Tigers within 5-2.

Hayley Laurendeau led off the scoring bonanza in the top of the seventh, earning a leadoff single, followed by a single from Polk. Randi Johnson would send both players across the plate, thanks to a double to left, stretching the lead to 7-2.

Madeline Houk scored Johnson on a single, while back-to-back errors allowed Shelby Payne and Kylie Gurley to reach base. A fielder's choice in Russell's at-bat made it a 9-2 advantage and Anna Nickens closed things out by reaching third base on an error, allowing Russell and Crista Wilson to score the final runs.

Dickerson made quick work of the Lady Tigers in the bottom of the seventh, notching a pair of strikeouts and earning her sixth complete game of the season. The Olive Branch native and career strikeout leader totaled 15 punchouts, with no walks and two earned runs given up.

Northwest was led at the plate by Polk's 3-for-4 effort, including a homer and three RBIs. Houk and Wilson each finished 2-for-4, with Wilson earning a double. Coahoma was held to just five base hits, led by Ashanti Stephens' 2-for-3 performance and Graves' homer.

Kaela Pangman was handed the loss in the circle for the Lady Tigers, surrendering 11 runs on 11 hits with three walks allowed.


Game 2 - #2 Northwest 14, Coahoma 0 (5 inn.)

Northwest led 2-0 after three innings, but broke the game open with six runs in the fourth and six more in the fifth, clinching the Lady Rangers' eighth run-rule win of the season.

Reese Vanlandingham paved the way for the first run of the game, delivering a leadoff single in the top of the first and stealing two bases. Kaylee Owens would then score Vanlandingham on a groundout to the shortstop for the only run of the inning.

Scoreless after the second inning, the Rangers once again got a boost from Vanlandingham, after she led off the top of the third with another single. The sophomore speedster stole second and third again in Owens' at-bat, and Owens scored her on a single to left field, pushing the Northwest lead to 2-0.

After Harrison delivered a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third, the bats really came alive for Northwest. Wilson led off the top of the fourth being hit by a pitch, which was followed by a Chloe Summerford single and a fielder's choice in Russell's at-bat. Vanlandingham then scored two runs on a double up the middle, followed by a sac fly from Owens, stretching the lead to 5-0.

An error on Kara Johnson's at-beat sent Vanlandingham and Polk across the plate for two more runs and a groundout from Houk plated one more run, moving the Northwest lead to a comfortable 8-0 margin. 

Another solid inning for Harrison gave way to the top of the fifth, where Northwest put the game away for good. After Cooper led things off with a triple to center, Vanlandingham sent a two-run double to left, scoring Cooper and Russell, who reached on a walk. 

With the bases loaded after a Jillian Malone single and a walk to Laurendeau, Vanlandingham scored from third on a walk to Shelby Payne. Kylee Brown got a turn at the plate next, scoring Malone on a groundout, moving the Rangers' lead to 12-0. An error on Harrison's at-bat allowed the final two Northwest runs to score, before Cooper entered the circle and retired the Lady Tigers in order.

Northwest finished with nine base hits, led by a strong 4-for-4 effort from Vanlandingham that included four RBIs. Delainee Burnham was credited with the loss in the circle for Coahoma, after issuing 14 runs and seven walks in a complete seven-inning effort. Read Full Article