SENATOBIA - Northwest needed just three outs to secure a win against Illinois Central on Friday evening, but instead gave up a two-run double in the top of the ninth, as the Rangers fell 8-7 to the visiting Cougars.
Northwest dropped to 6-3 with the loss, as Illinois Central evened its overall record to 4-4. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, February 24, scheduled for 1/4 P.M.
After both teams went scoreless in the first inning, the Rangers gave up a leadoff double to Jacob Castleman in the top of the second. Castleman would later advance to third on a single from Kannon Kleine and score on a wild pitch to make it a 1-0 lead for the Cougars, before
Carson Fox delivered three straight strikeouts to end the inning.
Northwest responded right back in the bottom of the second, as
Peyton Martin led off the inning by reaching base and advancing to second on an errant throw from third base.
Matthew Roncalli's sac bunt moved Martin over to third, where he would score on
Cy Craig's groundout to first base, tying the game at 1-1.
Despite giving up a leadoff single to start the third, Fox navigated through the frame to leave Illinois Central scoreless.
Tyler Pearson's leadoff single in the bottom of the third would help set the stage for a three-run frame for Northwest, as
Cade Leatherwood singled to second base to make it a 2-1 game, with two more runs scoring off a passed ball and a groundout.
Northwest stretched its lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth, as Hayden Davis' single to center scored
Cy Craig from second base. However, the Rangers would leave the bases loaded to end the inning, which would soon come back to haunt the home team.
With neither team adding anything in the fifth, Illinois Central began to find a rhythm in the top half of the sixth inning. With one out, Castleman delivered a single to right field and a two-out error led to a walk that loaded the bases, setting up what would become a five-run frame for the Cougars.
Riley McCallister struck first with a two-run single through the right side, cutting the Rangers' lead to 5-3. Nick Piazza followed with a two-run single up the middle, helping Illinois Central tie the game, and the Cougars took a 6-5 lead on Luke Doty's RBI-double to center. (All five runs came unearned.)
A series of walks allowed the Rangers a chance to respond in the home half of the sixth, and Martin's single loaded the bases. A bases loaded walk to Craig allowed Leatherwood to score, tying the game at 6-6.
Payton Sanders held Illinois Central scoreless in the top half of the seventh, and Northwest regained a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the inning, thanks to
Cade Greer's RBI-single up the middle.
Craig moved to the mound in the top of the eighth and once again kept the Cougars off the board. However, the Rangers were also retired in order, unable to get an insurance run heading to the ninth.
With Bishop hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the ninth, the Cougars instantly had the tying run on base and the go-ahead run at the plate. Though Northwest forced Kyle Mack into a double play, back-to-back walks put Castleman and Kleine on base, setting up the two-run double that gave Illinois Central the 8-7 lead.
Ian McGhiey pitched the bottom of the ninth for the Cougars and retired the Rangers in order, preserving the win for Illinois Central.
Both teams combined for 19 base hits, with 10 coming from Illinois Central. Greer, Leatherwood and Pearson finished with two hits apiece, combining for six of the Rangers' nine base hits. Bishop, Castleman and Piazza had two hits apiece for the Cougars, accounting for six of their base hits.
James Smith was handed the loss in relief, falling to 1-1 on the season. The sophomore had one strikeout and three walks given up, allowing the final two runs from the Cougars.Â
Northwest used six total pitchers in the loss, with Fox and
Drew Lamb combining for eight strikeouts over the first five innings. Illinois Central used four pitchers, with Blake Norton picking up the win and McGhiey earning the save.
