WESSON - Despite taking early leads in both of Saturday's games at No. 4 Copiah-Lincoln, eighth-ranked Northwest lost leads to the Lady Wolves, as the defending NJCAA Division II champions swept the Rangers by a pair of 9-4 finals.
Morgen Brewton suffered her first loss in the circle for Northwest, dropping to 9-1 on the season, while
Neely Cooper's record dropped to 5-5 with her Game 2 loss.
One positive for the Rangers was the hitting effort at the plate, as Northwest combined for 18 base hits in the losses.
Kaylee Owens and
Madeline Houk both came away with home runs, with Houk hitting her first of the season in Game 2. Freshman
Lulu Franks also hit an RBI-double in the finale.
With the losses, Northwest fell to 14-6 on the season and 1-3 in the MACCC, while Co-Lin jumped to 15-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play. The Rangers will look to regroup on Tuesday, March 19 against Mississippi Delta, scheduled for 2/4 P.M. in Senatobia.
Game 1 - #4 Copiah-Lincoln 9, #8 Northwest 4
Ellie Fryar gave Northwest a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but a six-run frame in the bottom of the second allowed Co-Lin to pull away for the 9-4 victory.
Co-Lin stretched its lead to 7-1 in the bottom of the third, but a two-run single from Franks helped the Rangers pull back within 7-3 in the top of the fourth. The Lady Wolves tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth and another in the sixth, while a solo homer from Owens helped Northwest add one more in the top of the sixth.
Brewton (9-1) took her first loss of the season, lasting just one inning and allowing five runs and a walk. Cooper pitched the next 1.2 frames, but gave up two earned runs and three walks, before
Sommer Tyes tossed three strikeouts over the final 3.1 innings.
For the Lady Wolves, Cara Biswell struck out 11 batters in seven total innings, allowing three walks and two earned runs.
At the plate, Fryar finished 3-for-4 to lead Northwest, while Franks went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
Hanna Grace Gillean also finished 3-for-3 for the Rangers.
Co-Lin was led by two hits apiece from Abby Grace Richardson, Taylor Efferson, Madison Moak and Carson Hughey.
Game 2 - #4 Copiah-Lincoln 9, #8 Northwest 4
Though Northwest held a 2-0 lead entering the bottom of the third inning, Co-Lin answered with three runs in the bottom of the third and one in the fourth, before breaking the game open for good with a five-run frame in the sixth.
Northwest added two runs back in the top of the fifth, but were held scoreless over the next two frames.
Houk and
Carly Dunigan led the Rangers with a pair of 2-for-3 efforts at the plate, with Houk bringing in two runs on her home run. Franks also went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Owens finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
Co-Lin once again finished with 10 hits, led by two each from Richardson, Kynlee Madere and Leia Phillips.Â
Cooper (5-5) was handed the loss for Northwest, issuing three strikeouts against a walk and three earned runs in four total innings pitched.
Abby Rogers pitched the final two frames, delivering two strikeouts against two walks and two earned runs.
Keegan McCorkle (4-0) tossed a complete game for the Lady Wolves, striking out five batters against two walks and three earned runs.
