GOODMAN - Two early leads for Northwest were squashed by Holmes during a pair of 9-7 and 4-2 losses on Tuesday afternoon.
Northwest scored four runs in the top of the first of Game 1, but surrendered five runs to the Lady Bulldogs in the bottom of the first inning. In the finale, the Rangers led 1-0 in the top of the second and 2-1 in the top of the third, only to allow two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
With the losses, Northwest dropped to 16-10 on the season and 3-7 inside the MACCC. Holmes improved to 17-13 overall and 3-7 in conference play.
Northwest will now turn its attention to Friday, March 29, when the Rangers host Hinds. The Lady Eagles enter with a 17-11 overall record and a 6-4 mark in conference play, following a split against Pearl River on Tuesday.
Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for 2/4 P.M. with broadcast coverage available on
Ranger TV.Â
Game 1 - Holmes 9, #11 Northwest 7
Northwest finished the game with 11 hits and started out with a 4-0 lead, only for Holmes to rally back for a five-run frame in the bottom of the first, paving the way for a 9-7 loss.
Northwest knotted the game back up at 5-5 in the top of the third, but the Lady Bulldogs responded with two more runs in the bottom of the inning, regaining a 7-5 advantage. The Rangers would then get back-to-back home runs from
Kara Johnson and
Shelby Payne in the top of the fifth, tying the game at 7-7, only for Holmes to again add two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Payne went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double. a home run and three RBIs, while
Abby Rogers finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Hanna Grace Gillean also finished with a double, along with freshman catcher
Lulu Franks.
Seven errors were committed by Northwest in the loss.
Neely Cooper (5-7) pitched six full frames, allowing seven runs, but only two earned. The sophomore from Florence also delivered a pair of strikeouts against two walks.
Rogers started the game in the circle for the Rangers, but was pulled after allowing three leadoff walks.Â
Game 2 - Holmes 4, #11 Northwest 2
A two-run fifth inning from Holmes made the ultimate difference in a 4-2 loss for Northwest.
Holmes out-hit the Rangers, 9-6, with Johnson finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. Gillean also finished with 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
Northwest led 1-0 in the top of the second, only for the Lady Bulldogs to tie it up in the home half of the inning. The Rangers regained a 2-1 lead in the top of the third, but Holmes rallied back to tie it at 2-2.
Holmes would then score two in the bottom of the fifth, while keeping the Rangers off the board for the final four innings.
Morgen Brewton (10-3) struck out five against one walk in the loss, allowing three earned runs.
