TUPELO - Playing in its first games since February 8, Northwest picked up a valuable sweep against No. 16 South Suburban College on Saturday, as the Rangers took a pair of 5-3 and 9-6 victories against the Bulldogs.
Neely Cooper earned the win in the circle for the Rangers in the opener, while
Morgen Brewton received the win in the nightcap. Northwest also combined for 20 hits, 11 of those coming in the Game 2 victory.
With the sweep, the Rangers moved to 4-0 on the season, while South Suburban College fell to 0-2. Northwest will return to action on Sunday morning in Senatobia against Kaskaskia College, with games taking place at 11 A.M. and 1 P.M.
Game 1 - Northwest 5, #16 South Suburban College 3
Kara Johnson and
Thenya Kennedy had big performances at the plate, helping Northwest to the Game 1 victory against South Suburban College.
Johnson, a Senatobia native, finished 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while the freshman Kennedy went 2-for-4 with a double.
Carly Dunigan and
Sommer Tyes also finished with two base hits apiece, both doubles.
South Suburban got a runner on base in the top of the first, but Cooper ended the threat with a strikeout. Northwest responded with a run in the bottom of the first, thanks to a sac fly from
Ellie Fryar, which scored Kennedy from third.
Although the Rangers took the 1-0 lead entering the second inning, South Suburban responded with a pair of runs in the top half of the inning. The Bulldogs got a double to left and then scored on a passed ball to earn the one-run advantage.
However, South Suburban wouldn't keep the lead for long, as the Rangers got two back in the home half of the inning. Tyes doubled to advance Dunigan to third, and both runners would score on a groundout and a failed pickoff at third, sending Northwest ahead 3-2.
After Cooper and the Rangers held the Bulldogs scoreless in the top of the third, Northwest got a run back in the bottom of the inning to make it a 4-2 lead. Johnson smacked a double to left and
Kaylee Owens followed with an RBI-single to the same spot, scoring Johnson.
From there, both pitching staffs settled in, allowing minimal damage the rest of the way. Northwest did get a run in the bottom of the fifth and the Bulldogs countered with a run in the top of the seventh, but the Rangers held off the rally from the Bulldogs.
Cooper tossed 6.1 innings to earn the win in the circle, striking out seven South Suburban batters. Tyes pitched a third of an inning, delivering a strikeout against a pair of walks.
Abbey Grafenauer was handed the loss for South Suburban, striking out three batters in four complete frames, allowing three earned runs. Skyler Katschke also pitched three innings of relief, striking out two batters and surrendering a pair of walks.
Emily Bickett accounted for two of the Bulldogs' four hits and Breeana Graham finished with a double.
Game 2 - Northwest 9, #16 South Suburban College 6
South Suburban rallied from a 6-0 deficit, scoring all six of its runs over the final three innings, but Northwest managed to hang on to secure the sweep.
Northwest got 11 base hits, led by a 3-for-3 effort from Owens and two apiece from Dunigan, Kennedy and
Abby Rogers.
Chloe Summerford also homered and was credited with two RBIs.
Scoreless in the top of the second, South Suburban doubled to center with no outs and a runner on, only for
Madeline Houk and Summerford to complete a throw to
Crista Wilson at the plate, denying the Bulldogs' the go-ahead run.
In the bottom of the second, the Rangers responded with a solo homer from Owens, giving Northwest a 1-0 lead. It was the second home run of the season for the sophomore and Fulton native.
Northwest followed with three more runs in the same inning, stretching the Rangers' lead to 4-0. Owens helped Northwest add to the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring off a passed ball, followed by an RBI-double from Rogers, which scored Fryar.
South Suburban got on the board with a pair of home runs in the top of the fifth, cutting the deficit in half to 6-3. Northwest later added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth and a passed ball allowed Dunigan to score in the home half of the sixth, pushing the Rangers' lead to 9-3.
Although the Bulldogs rallied back to make it a 9-6 deficit in the seventh, Northwest held on for the win and secured the sweep.
Brewton improved to 2-0 on the season, as the freshman from Mobile, Ala. struck out three batters in four complete innings. Rogers finished out the final three innings, totaling four strikeouts against two walks.
Genasis Vanderlaan was handed the loss for South Suburban College.
