SENATOBIA - Northwest combined for 18 base hits and outscored Illinois Central 14-1, as the Rangers took two from the Cougars on Saturday afternoon to win the weekend series.
Freshman
Brennan Jones and sophomore
Scott Sharp lifted the Rangers with a pair of victories on the mound, with Sharp going the distance and earning six strikeouts. Northwest also picked up 11 hits in the finale and shutout the Cougars.
Northwest improved to 8-3 on the season, as Illinois Central fell to 4-6 overall. The Rangers will now host Freed-Hardeman JV on Monday, February 26 for a single nine-inning game, beginning at 4 P.M.
Game 1 - Northwest 8, Illinois Central 1
Northwest broke open a 1-1 draw in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring a whopping seven runs to tie the weekend series with Illinois Central.
Northwest out-hit the Cougars 7-5 in the victory, with
Peyton Martin and
Matthew Roncalli combining for four base hits apiece. Martin went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, while Roncalli finished 2-for-3.
Jones (2-1) went six innings on the mound for the Rangers, earning the victory with five strikeouts against one walk.
Jackson Jenkins pitched an inning of relief for the second game in a row, allowing just one hit and preserving the win in the top of the seventh.
Gus Lucas was handed the loss for Illinois Central, striking out four batters and allowing three walks in 3.2 innings. Gavin Thompson finished the last 2.1 innings of relief, issuing two walks and two unearned runs.
Illinois Central scattered five hits across the lineup, with Tyler Bishop providing a double for the Cougars' only extra base hit.
Game 2 - Northwest 6, Illinois Central 0
Northwest scattered all six of its runs across four innings and
Scott Sharp pitched a complete-game shutout, as the Rangers delivered the Saturday sweep and series victory against Illinois Central.
Northwest finished with 11 hits in the contest, compared to just four from the Cougars.
Levi Lang and
Cade Leatherwood combined for two hits apiece, with Lang recording a double and an RBI.
Illinois Central tried to strike first in the top of the second, but Castleman was left stranded at third despite his leadoff single. Meanwhile,
Austin Batts led off the bottom of the second with a triple, later scoring on a single from
James Smith to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
Although Northwest surrendered three straight singles to open the third inning, the bases loaded scenario came to a quick end for the Cougars. Leatherwood, Batts and Lang combined for the 5-2-3 double play, while Castleman struck out swinging, denying a chance to tie for Illinois Central.
Cade Greer led off the bottom of the third with a single for Northwest, later scoring on Lang's RBI-double to right field. Martin followed with a single to center, scoring Lang and giving the Rangers the 3-0 lead.
Sharp delivered two strikeouts in the top of the fourth and retired the Cougars in order, and a sacrifice fly from
Jacob Hill allowed Northwest to make it a 4-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning.
For the next three innings, Sharp retired Illinois Central in order, denying the Cougars of any more base hits. Meanwhile, the Rangers added two runs in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to Craig's two-run single with two outs.
Northwest left two on base in the bottom of the sixth, but it didn't matter much as Sharp sent the Cougars packing in the top of the seventh, securing the shutout. Sharp improved to 2-1 on the season and issued six strikeouts, allowing just one walk.
Cole Thomas (1-1) took the loss for Illinois Central, striking out three batters and allowing four earned runs through four complete frames. Brody Palmer and Caleb Diver combined for the final two innings of relief, striking out three batters.
