SENATOBIA - Two strong performances on the mound from
Connor McCaslin and
Mason Shropshire helped hold Arkansas State Mid-South to just one run in two games, as Northwest delivered a Tuesday home sweep, 10-0 and 13-1, in a pair of run-rule finishes.
In the opener, McCaslin tossed 3.2 innings and struck out five, while allowing a single walk and no runs or hits. Shropshire went four complete in the nightcap, dishing out a career-high 10 strikeouts against two walks and one earned run.
Northwest also combined for 19 hits in the sweep, led by a 4-for-4 effort by
Cade Leatherwood, which included a double, a triple and three RBIs.
With the sweep, the Rangers improved to 3-1 on the season, while Arkansas State Mid-South dropped to 0-3. The Rangers will travel to Bevill State on Friday, February 16 for a 12/3 P.M. twinbill, which will be held at the Bears' Fayette, Ala. campus.
Game 1 - Northwest 10, Arkansas State Mid-South 0 (6 inn.)
After scraping across a run in each of the first three innings, Northwest blew the game open with a five-run frame in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the bottom of the sixth, helping the Rangers to the emphatic Game 1 victory.
As McCaslin sent the Greyhounds down in order to open the contest, Northwest got a two-out single from Leatherwood, as
Levi Lang followed with a walk. Leatherwood would then advance to third on a stolen base, before scoring on a throwing error, giving the Rangers their first run.
Another 1-2-3 frame for McCaslin helped Northwest inch another run across in the bottom of the second, as
Hayes Davis doubled to right and eventually scored from third on a wild pitch.
Leatherwood would score again in the bottom of the third, reaching base with a single and later scoring on a bases-loaded walk to
Cy Craig.
Leading 3-0, Northwest broke things open in the bottom of the fourth, as
Matthew Roncalli led off with a double to right field, followed by an RBI-single from
Tyler Pearson. A wild pitch and a sac bunt sent Pearson to third and
Cade Greer's single up the middle scored Pearson, extending the lead to 5-0.
In his next at-bat, Leatherwood teed off on a double to left field, sending Greer to third, where he would later score on a passed ball. An RBI-single from Lang scored Leatherwood and made it a 7-0 advantage for the Rangers.
Northwest would get one more in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a stolen base by
Peyton Martin and an error by the shortstop, which allowed Lang to score.
Though the Rangers were sent down in order in the home half of the fifth inning, Northwest would add two more in the sixth to complete the early finish. A one-out walk to Leatherwood set up an RBI-double down the left field line for
Rob Hayes. Then, a walk and a wild pitch allowed Martin and Hayes to advance to second and third, respectively, before another wild pitch scored Hayes for the winning run.
Leatherwood finished 3-for-3 with a double and a walk to lead the Rangers at the plate, while Roncalli also finished 2-for-3 with a double. Parker Andel picked up the lone hit for ASU Mid-South, a double in the top of the fourth.
McCaslin struck out five batters in 3.2 innings to earn the decision for Northwest, issuing no runs or hits and just one walk.
Gavin McCoy was also strong in relief, striking out four in 1.1 innings of work, while
Carson Fox closed things out with one strikeout in the top of the sixth.
Matthew Leeper was handed the loss for the Greyhounds, giving up two runs and a pair of walks in two complete frames. Tracy Laureano was the most effective pitcher for ASU Mid-South, striking out three batters in two full innings.
Game 2 - Northwest 13, Arkansas State Mid-South 1 (5 inn.)
Arkansas State Mid-South issued 10 walks and committed five errors, allowing Northwest to take a sizable lead in the nightcap.
Mason Shropshire sent the Greyhounds down in order, issuing three straight strikeouts. From there, the Rangers scored three runs in the home half of the first inning, thanks to three errors by ASU Mid-South.
Jacob Hill kicked things off with a single, then advanced to second on an error by the shortstop. After Hill stole third, Greer was walked and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt, which allowed Hill to score. A walk got Leatherwood on base and a stolen base sent Greer to third, where he would later score off a passed ball.
Back-to-back walks to Lang and Martin loaded the bases for Northwest and a sac fly from Davis allowed Leatherwood to score, giving the Rangers the early 3-0 lead.
Despite issuing a leadoff walk to open the second, Shropshire quickly settled back in, sending ASU Mid-South down in order. From there, Northwest put the game out of reach with a massive nine-run frame in the bottom of the second, which was highlighted by Leatherwood's three-run triple and Hill's two-run triple.
Although the Greyhounds spoiled the shutout in the top of the third, Northwest put the exclamation point on the sweep with a run in the bottom of the fourth, as
Cade Freeze delivered a two-out RBI-single to center field.
Northwest finished with eight hits in the finale, led by two apiece from Hill and
Austin Batts. The freshman from Cleveland also had an RBI-single in the second inning.
Devyn McEachron delivered the lone run for the Greyhounds, an RBI-single that was preceded by a double from Ethan Hirons.
Freshman
Drew Lamb also delivered a pair of strikeouts in his fifth-inning relief appearance, combining with Shropshire for 12 strikeouts. ASU Mid-South used five pitchers, with Layne Rivers taking the loss after allowing three earned runs and four walks in one complete frame.
