SENATOBIA - When Northwest needed it most, freshman
Abby Rogers provided a spark in Tuesday's home sweep of Mississippi Delta.
Rogers, a native of Brandon, came up big both at the plate and in the circle of Game 1, as the Rangers took a narrow 8-7 win against the Lady Trojans. Northwest then took the finale against Mississippi Delta, 4-2.
Freshman
Ellie Fryar went a combined 4-for-6 at the plate, including three doubles, a triple and four RBIs.
Kara Johnson was also 3-for-4 with a home run in the opener.
Morgen Brewton moved to 10-1 in the circle with her Game 2 victory, striking out nine batters against one walk.
Game 1 - #9 Northwest 8, Mississippi Delta 7
A back-and-forth battle waged between Northwest and Mississippi Delta in Game 1 of Tuesday's conference doubleheader, until
Abby Rogers came in for a strong relief effort in the circle, as the Rangers took a close 8-7 win against the Lady Trojans.
Kaylee Owens got Northwest on the board quickly in the bottom of the first, as her RBI-single scored
Ellie Fryar from third. However, Mississippi Delta quickly responded in the top of the second, as Erica Janson and Adriyana Ruffin delivered a double and a triple, respectively, pushing the Lady Trojans to a 2-1 lead.
Northwest countered with four runs in the bottom of the second, thanks to a two-run double from Fryar and an RBI-double from
Hanna Grace Gillean. Owens also hit an RBI-single to left field, helping the Rangers to a 5-2 advantage.
However, Mississippi Delta answered back once again in the top of the third, scoring five runs with two outs. Tyler Vannucci's RBI-single brought the Lady Trojans back within two, while an error allowed MDCC to score another with the bases loaded.
Trailing 5-4, a two-run single from Ruffin helped Mississippi Delta gain a 6-5 lead and a bases loaded walk to MarQueshia Starks made it a 7-5 advantage for the Lady Trojans, before Rogers came on to deliver the final out of the inning.
Northwest pulled the energy back in its favor in the bottom of the fourth, as Johnson's two-run shot to left field tied the game at 7-7. Fryar's double in the fifth would then score the eventual winning run for the Rangers, as Rogers kept Mississippi Delta off the scoreboard for the final four innings.
Rogers (1-0) picked up her first decision of her collegiate career, while also finishing 2-for-4 at the plate with a double. Fryar and Johnson each finished 3-for-4, with Fryar earning three doubles and three runs batted in.Â
Owens also went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, as Northwest collectively finished with 13 base hits.
Mississippi Delta finished with eight base hits, led by two apiece from Ruffin and Starks. Sara Frances Ramsey (0-1) went the distance for the Lady Trojans, delivering one strikeout against four walks and five earned runs.
Game 2 - #9 Northwest 4, Mississippi Delta 2
Tied at 2-2 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, a triple from Fryar and a sacrifice fly from
Hanna Grace Gillean helped Northwest score the final two runs, securing the Game 2 victory against Mississippi Delta.
Scoreless after two complete, the Lady Trojans got to work in the top of the third, as back-to-back singles from Ruffin and Takiyah Shaw put two runners on with no outs. Another single from Carlie Vannucci helped MDCC score its first run, while a single up the middle from Starks made it a 2-0 lead.
Northwest promptly responded in the home half of the inning, as
Carly Dunigan hit a leadoff double, advancing to third and scoring on an error, all in the same play. After
Madeline Houk reached base on an error shortly after, Fryar's sacrifice fly brought in the sophomore outfielder for the tying run.
Mississippi Delta scattered a couple hits over the next few innings, but Brewton kept the Lady Trojans scoreless, setting up the go-ahead runs for the Rangers in the bottom of the sixth. The freshman pitcher from Mobile, Ala. polished off her complete game with a 1-2-3 frame in the top of the seventh, going the distance for the fourth time this season.
Through all seven innings, Brewton (10-1) struck out nine batters against a walk and two earned runs. At the plate, the Rangers scattered four hits across the lineup, with three of those going for extra base hits.
Fryar and Dunigan both finished 1-for-2, while Owens went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
Mississippi Delta finished with seven base hits in the loss, led by two apiece from Ruffin and Carlie Vannucci. Both Vannucci and Madalyn Goodman each came away with a double for the Lady Trojans.
In the circle, Vannucci (0-3) went the distance with three strikeouts and no walks, but allowed two earned runs.
