SENATOBIA - Sophomore Matthew Roncalli's strong efforts at the plate and a complete-game outing on the mound from Brennan Jones in Game 2 helped Northwest to a 7-6 and 6-2 sweep of Copiah-Lincoln on Saturday.

Roncalli went 4-for-6 at the plate in Game 1, delivering the walk-off single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning. Hayes Davis also hit a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to send the first game to extra innings.

On the mound in the nightcap, Jones struck out eight and allowed just one walk and one earned run, logging his second complete game of the season.

With the sweep, Northwest improved to 18-6 overall and 4-0 in the MACCC, marking the Rangers' first 4-0 start in conference play since the old divisional format was eliminated in 2014. The last time Northwest won its first four conference or division games came in 2013, when the Rangers swept Coahoma and Itawamba en route to a 31-18 overall record and an appearance in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.

Meanwhile, Co-Lin dropped to 13-15 overall and 1-3 in conference play with the losses.

Northwest will make the short trip to West Memphis, Ark. on Monday to face Arkansas State Mid-South at 1/4 P.M., before resuming conference play at Mississippi Delta on Tuesday, March 19 at 1/4 P.M.


Game 1 - Northwest 7, Copiah-Lincoln 6 (10 inn.)

Despite surrendering a 5-0 lead, Northwest battled back to force extra innings and Roncalli helped secure the win on a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th, as the Rangers outlasted Copiah-Lincoln, 7-6.

Northwest led 5-0 after the fourth inning, thanks to a Levi Lang two-run homer in the bottom of the first and a Jacob Hill single in the fourth. Hill's single was the start of a three-run frame in the bottom of the fourth, as Cade Greer's groundout allowed another run to score and Hill came around to score on a wild pitch.

Co-Lin began to rally back in the top of the fifth, as Tucker Jones' fielder's choice scored Sawyer Dunn and Hagan Coumbe singled to the shortstop, scoring Sam Wilson. Trailing 5-2 in the top of the eighth, the Wolves tied the game up on Dunn's two-run single and Jordan McKenzie's run that scored on a wild pitch.

A single to left field in the top of the ninth gave Co-Lin a 6-5 lead and put the Rangers on the ropes, only for Hayes Davis to deliver a solo homer with two outs, forcing extra innings.

Although the Wolves placed two runners in scoring position in the top of the 10th, James Smith navigated the Rangers through the inning with no damage done. Northwest would then set the stage for the walk-off, as Greer and Cade Leatherwood reached base on errors. After an intentional walk to Peyton Martin loaded the bases, Roncalli dropped a single to shallow right field, allowing Greer to score the winning run.

Each team finished with 10 hits in the opener, with Roncalli's 4-for-6 performance leading the Rangers' efforts at the plate. Hill also went 2-for-6 with an RBI, while Cy Craig finished 1-for-5 with a double.

Coumbe, McKenzie and Lucas Harrington combined for six of the Wolves' 10 hits. Co-Lin also used five pitchers, with Harrington lasting the longest, tossing 4.1 innings of relief and two strikeouts.

Jayden Duncan (1-2) was handed the loss for the Wolves, striking out one batter against one walk and an unearned run during his full inning of relief. Starter Andin Bolen lasted just 1.2 frames, striking out two batters against three walks and a pair of earned runs.

For Northwest, Smith (4-2) picked up the win, tossing three strikeouts against three walks and an earned run through three full innings of relief. Mason Shropshire started the first five innings for the Rangers, scattering five strikeouts against four walks and two earned runs.


Game 2 - Northwest 6, Copiah-Lincoln 2

Northwest broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning, thanks to a two-run homer from Leatherwood and a two-run single from Craig, securing the sweep of Co-Lin.

Both teams went scoreless through the first two innings, as Brennan Jones and Co-Lin's Connor Pittman settled in for pitcher's duel. In the top of the third, the Wolves broke the ice with Brentley Berry's two-run single to right center, taking a 2-0 lead.

Northwest responded right back in the home half of the third, as Craig was walked with two outs. Hill then singled to right-center, moving Craig to third, where Greer followed with a single and an error to tie the game.

Jones settled in the rest of the way, allowing two singles and a walk, but keeping the Wolves off the scoreboard. The Rangers gained insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to the home run from Leatherwood and the two-run single from Craig.

Northwest finished with nine hits, led by a 3-for-3 effort from Greer and a 2-for-3 outing from Roncalli. Jones (4-1) finished with eight strikeouts and one walk, logging his second complete game.

Co-Lin scattered four hits across its lineup, with Sam Thomas finishing with a double. Pittman fell to 4-3 on the mound, despite issuing four strikeouts and a walk in six complete frames. 
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