SENATOBIA - If there was one word that could be used to describe Northwest freshman pitcher Morgen Brewton through her first four collegiate appearances, it would be "tough".

That tenacity was on full display in Thursday's sweep of No. 9 Kirkwood, as the Mobile, Ala. native bent, but did not break. Though she surrendered two runs in the top of the first and three more the rest of the way during Game 1, Brewton remained locked in, even as the game went to extra innings.

In all, Brewton finished with 150 pitches thrown in a complete game performance, with 110 of those landing in the strike zone. More importantly, she delivered eight strikeouts against one walk, earning the win and improving to 4-0 in the circle.

At the plate, Northwest combined for 21 base hits, finishing with 11 in the 6-5 Game 1 victory. The Rangers also totaled 10 hits in the finale, defeating the Lady Eagles 7-2. 

With the sweep, the Rangers moved to 7-1 on the season and 4-0 against nationally-ranked opponents. Northwest will bring in another top-ranked opponent on Saturday, as No. 13 Spoon River College makes an appearance in Senatobia for a 10 A.M./12 P.M. doubleheader.


Game 1 - Northwest 6, #9 Kirkwood 5 (8 inn.)

Though Kirkwood tested Brewton and the Rangers early with a two-run first inning, Northwest quickly battled back and turned the game into a tug-of-war that was eventually settled in the bottom of the eighth.

A leadoff walk allowed the Lady Eagles to strike first in the top of the first, as Peyton Johnson's RBI-single to left center scored Racheal Schlotter, followed by an RBI-single off the bat of Sailor Hall.

Northwest was retired in order in the bottom of the first inning, but Brewton recovered to do the same to the Lady Eagles in the top of the second. The Rangers were once again held scoreless in the next half inning, but Kirkwood also failed to increase its lead in the top of the third.

Things finally began to click for Northwest in the bottom of the third, as Chloe Summerford led off the inning with a double to left center. After a wild pitch allowed the Smithville native to advance to third, an error by Peyton Driscoll on Madeline Houk's at-bat allowed Summerford to score the Rangers' first run.

Marleigh Mancini followed with a single to move Houk to third, and Ellie Fryar's bunt single allowed Northwest to tie it up. Kara Johnson kept the momentum going with a sac fly to center, which scored Mancini from third, helping the Rangers to a 3-2 advantage.

However, Kirkwood responded right back in the top of the fourth, as Hall led off the inning with a triple to right field. An error on the next at-bat allowed Hall to score from third, tying the game at 3-3.

After Brewton responded by retiring the next three batters, Northwest took the lead right back in the bottom of the fourth, as freshman Sommer Tyes blasted a solo shot to center field for her first college home run. 

Kirkwood not only tied the game in the top of the fifth, but the Lady Eagles also took a 5-4 lead, thanks to Johnson's RBI-triple to left center and a sac fly from Sydney Roe. Northwest tried to respond in the bottom half of the inning with two base hits, but Fryar was thrown attempting to steal home, thus ending the scoring threat.

Kirkwood threatened with a two-out double in the top of the sixth, but Brewton struck out Schlotter to keep the Rangers within a 5-4 margin.

Northwest got a pair of base hits in the bottom of the sixth, but the Rangers were unable to force the tying run across the plate, as Tyes and Houk were left stranded at third and second, respectively.

Brewton retired the Lady Eagles quickly in the top half of the seventh, and Northwest finally delivered the tying run with three outs left. Fryar led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and a sacrifice bunt from Johnson advanced her to third. Kaylee Owens then scored Fryar with a sac fly to left field, ultimately sending the game to extra innings.

Brewton got three quick outs in the top of the eighth and Shelby Payne laid down a bunt single to advance Carly Dunigan to third base with no outs. After Tyes was struck out, Houk ended the game with a walk-off sac fly to left field, sending Dunigan across the plate for the winning run.

Fryar went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Northwest, while Summerford and Tyes collected two hits apiece. For Kirkwood, Hall accounted for three of the Lady Eagles' eight base hits, with Johnson and Brenna Ross adding two each.

Driscoll was handed the loss for Kirkwood, finishing with five strikeouts and four runs allowed in five complete innings. Peyton Paulsen pitched the final 2.2 innings for the Lady Eagles, allowing two runs with three strikeouts.


Game 2 - Northwest 7, #9 Kirkwood 2

Unlike the opener, Northwest didn't have to wait long to score runs, as the Rangers got two in the bottom of the first en route to the 7-2 victory against the Lady Eagles.

After Neely Cooper sent Kirkwood down in order to open the game, Northwest got three straight hits from Fryar, Johnson and Owens, which loaded the bases. A wild pitch helped score the first run for the Rangers, while an error on Dunigan's at-bat sent Owens across the plate.

Northwest would keep the 2-0 lead in tact until the bottom of the third, when Owens hit a two-out triple. Cooper would then score her on a single through the left side, extending the Rangers' lead to 3-0.

Kirkwood got a run back in the top of the fourth, but nothing more, as Cooper delivered a pair of strikeouts to limit the damage. The Rangers responded with a big, three-run bottom of the fourth, with Fryar delivering a two-run single up the middle and Owens hitting an RBI-single to right field, scoring Fryar for a 6-1 lead.

Northwest would get one more run for insurance in the bottom of the sixth, as Madison Weeks delivered an RBI-single up the middle in her first collegiate at-bat, scoring Fryar from second. Kirkwood got one more run on Johnson's RBI-double to left center, but Abby Rogers would slam the door on any serious rally from the Lady Eagles, preserving the sweep.

Northwest out-hit Kirkwood 10-4 in the finale, led by Owens' 3-for-3 effort at the plate. Fryar and Johnson also recorded two hits apiece.

Cooper improved to 3-1 in the circle, striking out five batters through six full innings of work. Rogers also struck out one batter in her relief effort in the seventh inning.

Hall took the loss for Kirkwood, despite issuing five strikeouts in four full innings. Natalie Vitek tossed the final two innings, earning one strikeout against three walks. Read Full Article