CLEVELAND, Miss. - Despite squandering leads in both of Wednesday's neutral-site games at Delta State University, Northwest managed to return home with two victories, a 5-4 decision against Hinds and a 6-5 win against Mississippi Delta.
Peyton Martin helped the Rangers earn the win against Hinds, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh on a sac fly. In the 6-5 triumph against Mississippi Delta, the Trojans rallied back for five runs in the bottom of the seventh, before
James Smith slammed the door on the comeback effort and earned his first save of the season in the process.
At the plate,
Jacob Hill combined to go 3-for-6 on the afternoon, including a 2-for-3 effort against Mississippi Delta in the nightcap.
With the wins, Northwest improved to 6-2 on the season. The Rangers will host Illinois Central in a three-game weekend series at Jim Miles Field, beginning on Friday afternoon with a single nine-inning contest at 1 P.M.
Game 1 - Northwest 5, Hinds 4
Despite being out-hit 8-5, Northwest scattered three of its five runs across the first three innings and rallied back from a 4-3 deficit to walk it off in the bottom of the seventh.
Cade Greer went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Rangers' efforts, adding a double and an RBI.
Cade Leatherwood also delivered a sac bunt and a sac fly to further assist in the win.
Mason Shropshire had another strong start on the mound, issuing nine strikeouts in five full innings, despite allowing two earned runs late.
Payton Sanders also delivered three strikeouts in relief, but it was Smith (1-0) getting the win, getting the final out in the top half of the seventh.
Brice Ainsworth and Braden Richardson led the Eagles' efforts at the plate, as both players finished 2-for-3, with Richardson recording a double and an RBI. Diego Maddox was also credited with a double and an RBI.
On the mound, Cole Burton (0-1) was handed the loss for Hinds, after allowing the final two runs to score. Carson Reed started the game for Hinds, striking out five batters across five full frames.
Game 2 - Northwest 6, Mississippi Delta 5
Freshman pitcher
Gavin McCoy (1-0) carried Northwest through 6.1 innings, issuing four strikeouts, while Smith came on to earn the save in a wild 6-5 win against Mississippi Delta.
Scoreless after two innings, Northwest got on the board with a three-run frame in the top of the third, highlighted by Leatherwood's two-run single past the shortstop. Martin also delivered a sacrifice fly, scoring
Jacob Hill.
Northwest was held scoreless again until the top of the sxith, when Martin's double to center field scored
Levi Lang, stretching the Rangers' lead to 4-0. Later in the seventh, Lang delivered two more runs on a double to left center, giving Northwest a 5-0 advantage.
However, Mississippi Delta wasn't going down without a fight in the bottom of the seventh. The Trojans got things going with a two-run double to left center from Drew Jarrell, followed by a sac fly from Brennan Surles. Now trailing just 6-3, MDCC added an RBI-double to right center from Alford Hill and a grounder from Thomas Kuhn, pulling back within 6-5.
With Smith on the mound and the tying run at third base, Que Carothers grounded out to the Rangers' pitcher, denying the Trojans from completing the comeback.
Both teams combined for 10 base hits, with six of those coming from Northwest. Hill led Mississippi Delta with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate.
McCoy got the win for the Rangers, while Colby Lafeyette was issued the loss for the Trojans, striking out five batters against five walks and three earned runs in three full frames. Gunter Reed tossed 3.1 innings of relief, striking out three batters, while Nash Koczka tossed 0.2 innings with a strikeout.
