MOORHEAD - Two strong outings from
Scott Sharp and
Gavin McCoy helped make the difference for Northwest in Tuesday's road sweep of Mississippi Delta.
Sharp tossed three strikeouts across eight innings in the opener, while McCoy went the distance in the finale, issuing two strikeouts and allowing just one base hit. Sophomore
James Smith also picked up the save in Game 1, his second of the season.
At the plate,
Jacob Hill and
Peyton Martin accounted for four of the Rangers' five base hits in Game 1, while
Cade Leatherwood went 2-for-2 in the nightcap.
With the sweep, Northwest improved to 20-7 overall and 6-0 in the MACCC, marking the best start to conference or division play since the 2000 season. The Rangers will face their toughest test of the season on Saturday, March 23 at top-ranked East Central, scheduled for 2/5 P.M. in Decatur. The Warriors are off to a 30-0 start to the season.
Game 1 - Northwest 3, Mississippi Delta 2
A pitching duel between Sharp and Mississippi Delta's Nash Koczka ultimately went in favor of Northwest on Tuesday afternoon, as the Rangers plated three runs on five hits in a 3-2 victory.
Both teams scored a run each in the first inning, but Northwest broke the 1-1 draw with a run in the second and another in the third. The Trojans got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, but the Rangers managed to keep the home team off the board the rest of the way.
Hill finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored, while Martin finished 2-for-4.
Matthew Roncalli also went 1-for-4 with a run scored.
Sharp improved to 5-1 on the mound, delivering three strikeouts against three walks. Smith earned his second save of the season, delivering three strikeouts in four batters faced.
Game 2 - Northwest 4, Mississippi Delta 1
Northwest scattered two runs across the second and third innings, before a two-run insurance frame in the top fo the seventh helped seal the sweep for the Rangers.
Leatherwood's 2-for-2 effort highlighted the Rangers' efforts at the plate, while
Austin Batts,
Cy Craig and
Tyler Pearson finished with one base hit apiece.
McCoy (2-2) tossed two strikeouts and logged his first complete game of the season. The Saltillo native surrendered five walks, but allowed just one hit and issued a pair of strikeouts.
