SENATOBIA - Although Northwest suffered its first loss of the season in a 5-3 decision to Kaskaskia College in Game 1, the Rangers rallied back to take a 6-3 victory in the finale of Sunday's doubleheader.
Northwest struggled at the plate in both games, but the biggest blemish came in the top of the sixth inning in Game 1, when four errors helped the Blue Angels score three runs to permanently take the lead. The Rangers were also out-hit in both games, combining for just nine hits as Kaskaskia finished with 15 hits.
Morgen Brewton went the distance for Northwest in the nightcap, improving to 3-0 on the season.
Neely Cooper homered in Game 1, but was handed the loss in the circle.
With the split, Northwest moved to 5-1 overall and Kaskaskia moved to 1-3. The Rangers will host ninth-ranked Kirkwood on Thursday, February 22 at 1/3 P.M. and No. 13 Spoon River on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 10 A.M. and 12 P.M.
Game 1 - Kaskaskia College 5, Northwest 3
Trailing 3-2 entering the top of the sixth inning, Kaskaskia tacked on three runs with the help of some Northwest errors, as the Rangers fell 5-3 in the opener.
Kaskaskia out-hit Northwest 9-5 in the contest, with Aspen Schmidt picking up the win in the circle for the Blue Angels, earning four strikeouts in seven innings.
With one out, Kadee Milligan singled to left field and later scored on a two-out single from Amber Russell, giving Kaskaskia the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The Rangers responded with two runs in the bottom of the first, as
Carly Dunigan was walked with one out, later scoring on an RBI-single through the left side from
Kaylee Owens.
Tied 1-1,
Ellie Fryar doubled to left center with two outs, scoring Owens from second. The 2-1 lead was short-lived however, as a two-out single to third base helped Kaskaskia tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the second.
Cooper led off the bottom of the second with a bang, earning her first home run of the season with a solo shot to left field, giving Northwest the 3-2 lead.
Neither team would score over the next three innings, although the Rangers left two runners stranded in scoring position in the bottom of the third. With Northwest unable to score, Kaskaskia eventually took advantage in the top of the sixth, as Maddy Probus' single scored Gracie Philpot from third, tying the game at 3-3.
With two outs, the Blue Angels scored as a result of a McKensie Jackson single and back-to-back errors, giving Kaskaskia the 5-3 lead. Schmidt then sent the Rangers down in order in the next two frames, denying any rally attempt for Northwest.
Jackson, Milligan and Probus finished with two hits apiece to lead Kaskaskia at the plate, while five different Rangers finished with one hit apiece. Cooper was handed the loss for Northwest, despite issuing three strikeouts and only allowing one earned run. Starter
Dakota Haynsworth lasted three full innings, allowing two earned runs with no walks or strikeouts.
Schmidt earned the win for Kaskaskia, tossing four strikeouts across seven innings of work. Emily Curtis made a brief relief appearance, but was pulled in favor of Schmidt after walking two Northwest batters.
Game 2 - Northwest 6, Kaskaskia College 3
A three-run bottom of the fifth inning helped make the difference for Northwest in the nightcap, as the Rangers avoided being swept with a 6-3 victory against Kaskaskia.
Both teams remained scoreless over the first two and a half innings, but a leadoff walk to
Marleigh Mancini helped change things for Northwest in the bottom of the third. After Dunigan's groundout moved Mancini to second, the freshman from Cleveland advanced to third on a wild pitch. Later, Johnson's sac fly to right scored Mancini, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
Kaskaskia responded with three straight base hits in the top of the fourth, sparked by a two-out double from Russell. Ashlyn Colvis then singled to right field, scoring Russell for the tie, while Philpot followed with a triple to give the Blue Angels a 2-1 lead.
Northwest wasted no time answering back, as
Sommer Tyes hit a one-out triple through the right side in the bottom of the fourth. Houk grounded out to second, scoring Tyes for the tie.
Brewton sent the Blue Angels down in order in the top of the fifth and Northwest responded with the three-run frame in the home half of the inning. Mancini led off with a single and advanced on a wild pitch, followed by a walk to Dunigan. Johnson followed with a double to left field, scoring Mancini and advancing Dunigan to third, while an error by the shortstop allowed Northwest to score two more for the 5-2 lead.
Colvis delivered an RBI-single in the top of the sixth, bringing Kaskaskia back within 5-3, only for the Rangers to respond with a sac bunt from Dunigan, scoring Summerford for a 6-3 lead. Brewton then shut things down for good in the top of the seventh, retiring the Blue Angels in order.
Brewton struck out five batters and allowed no walks, improving to 3-0 on the season. Probus was handed the loss for Kaskaskia, surrendering four walks and three earned runs, while Schmidt finished out the final two innings, allowing a run and a walk with one strikeout.
Colvis and Russell accounted for four of the Blue Angels' six base hits.
