SENATOBIA - Despite combining for 18 hits in Friday's doubleheader against Hinds, No. 11 Northwest dropped a pair of crucial MACCC contests to the Lady Eagles, 6-3 and 8-4.

Hanna Grace Gillean went 3-for-3 in the opener and Ellie Fryar finished 3-for-4 at the plate in Game 2, both finishing as the best batters for the Rangers in their respective games. In the circle, Morgen Brewton struck out five and allowed no walks in a tough Game 1 loss.

After the sweep, Northwest saw its losing streak extended to six games and fell to 16-12 overall, with a 3-9 MACCC record. Meanwhile, Hinds improved to 19-11 on the season and 8-4 in conference play. 

Northwest will host Coahoma on Wednesday, April 3 at 3/5 P.M., before welcoming sixth-ranked Jones College on Saturday, April 6 at 1/3 P.M. Both doubleheaders will be carried on Ranger TV.


Game 1 - Hinds 6, #11 Northwest 3

Northwest tried to dig out of an early 4-0 hole by scoring a run in the fourth and two more in the bottom of the fifth, but Hinds stayed ahead with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to hold on to the Game 1 victory.

After Brewton pitched a scoreless first inning against the Lady Eagles, Hinds placed its first run across the plate with an RBI-single to center field from Emily Vines in the top of the second. Kyleigh Forsyth pitched a pair of scoreless frames in the first three innings, while the Lady Eagles tacked on a three-run double from Sara Long in the top of the third, burying Northwest in a 4-0 deficit.

Abby Rogers helped inject some life into the Northwest bats in the bottom of the fourth, leading off the inning with a single to center field. Rogers then stole second base and advanced to third on an error, crossing the plate on Gillean's single down the right field line.

Neither team scored in the fifth inning, but Hinds added to its lead in the top of the sixth, thanks to a two-run double to center field from Mackenzie Kelly. Trailing 6-1, the Rangers responded with a two-run homer from Gillean in the bottom of sixth, but Northwest was unable to come any closer.

Northwest finished with eight hits in the loss, while the Lady Eagles came away with 10, led by two apiece from Long, Vines and Taylor Nelson. Brewton dropped to 10-4 in the circle, while Forsyth (11-2) went the distance and struck out two batters for Hinds.


Game 2 - Hinds 8, #11 Northwest 4

Trailing 4-3 entering the seventh inning, Northwest surrendered four runs in the top of the seventh inning, all but sealing the sweep for Hinds.

Ellie Williamson's three-run homer in the top of the third inning allowed the Lady Eagles to jump out to solid lead, and Destiny Crosby's RBI-single up the middle in the top of the fourth carried Hinds to a 4-0 advantage.

Northwest fought back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, as a Chloe Summerford double and an RBI-single from Carly Dunigan closed the gap to 4-2. In the bottom of the fifth, Gillean doubled to right field, allowing Fryar to score on an error, cutting the deficit to one.

With one out in the top of the seventh, Hinds gained insurance runs and then some. Back-to-back singles from Crosby and Alexis Moran was followed by a walk to Nelson, loading the bases for the Lady Eagles. Williamson's two-run single to right field added two runs for Hinds, and a pair of RBI-singles from Long and Melissa Lopera made it an 8-3 lead.

Northwest tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, as Fryar led off the inning with a single to left field. With two outs, Kaylee Owens hit a single up the middle to score Fryar, but a groundout to the shortstop ended the Rangers' rally.

Hinds out-hit Northwest 13-10 in the finale, with Gillean and Dunigan combining for six of the Rangers' base hits. Four of the 10 base hits for Northwest were for extra bases, highlighted by Dunigan's triple and a double each for Fryar, Gillean and Summerford.

Crosby led the Lady Eagles with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate, while Moran, Nelson and Williamson came away with a pair of base hits each.

In the circle, Neely Cooper (5-8) was handed the loss, issuing four strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched. Rogers closed out the final 0.2 innings, striking out one batter and allowing no runs or walks.

Emily Vines (4-7) picked up the victory for Hinds, striking out three batters against two walks in four complete frames. Emily Vicknair tossed the final three innings, striking out two batters and earning her second save of the season.