SENATOBIA - Northwest was held to just nine combined hits in Saturday's 6-1 and 1-0 sweep at the hands of 13th-ranked East Central.

Ellie Fryar provided one of the few highlights for the Rangers in Game 1, teeing off on her first home run of the season, a solo blast in the bottom of the third. In the finale, Kaylee Owens went 3-for-3 at the plate, finishing with three of the team's five base hits.

In the circle, Morgen Brewton pitched a phenomenal Game 2, striking out seven batters against an unearned run and no walks. Abby Rogers also pitched three innings of relief in the opener, issuing three strikeouts against two walks and a pair of unearned runs.

With the losses, Northwest fell to 16-8 on the season and 3-5 in the conference. The Rangers will look to restore their winning ways on Tuesday, March 26 at Holmes, with game times scheduled for 2/4 P.M.


Game 1 - #13 East Central 6, #9 Northwest 1

East Central's Emily Collins tossed a complete game for the Lady Warriors, improving to 8-2 in the circle, as Northwest dropped a 6-1 loss.

Northwest fell behind 2-0, as East Central scored a run in each of the first two innings. Fryar's solo homer in the bottom of the third helped the Rangers close the gap to 2-1, only for the Lady Warriors to add two more runs in the top of the fourth on a Janci Aube double and an outfield error.

Leading 4-1, East Central added another run in the top of the fifth and another run in the seventh for good measure. Northwest was held without a hit in the fifth and sixth innings, but sparked a brief rally in the bottom of the seventh, only to be cut down by a fielder's choice to end the game.

East Central outmatched the Rangers, 8-4, in total hits, a total that included three doubles. Kaitlyn Jones and Sydney Phillips finished with two base hits each for the Lady Warriors, with Jones earning a double and an RBI.

Neely Cooper (5-6) pitched the first four innings for the Rangers, finishing with a strikeout, a walk and three earned runs allowed. Rogers struck out three in relief, allowing two hits and two unearned runs.


Game 2 - #13 East Central 1, #9 Northwest 0

A pitcher's duel between Brewton and East Central's Aube went in favor of the Lady Warriors, as Northwest dropped a narrow 1-0 loss.

Scoreless after three complete, Anna Grace Shows helped East Central break through in the top half of the fourth with a leadoff single. A sacrifice bunt from Sophia Romero advanced Shows to second and a passed ball allowed her to reach third, before a sacrifice fly from Jones allowed Shows to score.

Northwest fell victim to a controversial call in the bottom of the sixth, which ultimately took the momentum out of play for the Rangers. With one out, Owens sent a single up the middle and Rogers followed by reaching first base, despite the base paths being clearly obstructed by the East Central first baseman. After an objection from the Lady Warriors, the call was overturned and instead ruled a runner's interference, although Rogers had nowhere else to go on the play. 

As a result of the call, the second out was recorded and Owens was sent back to first, after advancing to third on the play. From there, the Rangers flew out to right field, ending the inning with East Central's 1-0 lead in tact. 

Brewton kept the Lady Warriors off the board in the top of the seventh, only for Northwest to be retired on a flyout and a double play.

Aube (10-1) earned the win for East Central, striking out four batters against a walk and five base hits. Brewton struck out seven in the losing effort, giving up no walks or earned runs.

Aside from Owens' three base hits, Rogers and Kara Johnson each finished with a base hit for Northwest. The Lady Warriors scattered all five of its hits through the lineup. Read Full Article