BOONEVILLE - A complete-game shutout from Neely Cooper in Game 1 and a seven-run top of the seventh inning in Game 2 were the big highlights for 20th-ranked Northwest, as the Rangers delivered a 6-0 and 7-5 sweep of Northeast on Thursday afternoon.

Northwest blasted nine hits in the opener, with some of those coming in the Rangers' four-run first inning. Abby Rogers pitched a solid four innings of relief, allowing just one unearned run, helping keep the Northeast lead within reach.

With the sweep, the Rangers moved to 21-13 on the season and 8-10 in the MACCC. Northwest has now won five of its last six games, putting the Rangers up to seventh in the conference standings.

Northwest will have a quick turnaround, traveling to Meridian on Saturday, April 13. The Lady Eagles (18-24, 5-9 MACCC) have lost five straight games, including a sweep at the hands of Copiah-Lincoln earlier this week.

No broadcast coverage will be available for Saturday's games.


Game 1 - #20 Northwest 6, Northeast 0

A four-run first inning made all the difference for Northwest in Thursday's opening victory at Northeast.

Ellie Fryar drew a leadoff walk to open the game, before Abby Rogers advanced her on a single to left field. Kara Johnson's single to left scored a run, and an error on the same play allowed another Northwest run to score, giving the Rangers the quick 2-0 lead.

Johnson quickly scored in the next at-bat, thanks to Kaylee Owens' RBI-single to left field. With two outs, Lulu Franks gave the Rangers an additional boost, knocking a triple to right field, scoring Owens and giving Northwest a 4-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Cooper carved up the Northeast batters throughout the contest, striking out seven batters against one walk and four base hits. The Florence native improved to 6-9 on the season with the win in the circle.

Ava Meeks, the starting pitcher for Northeast, settled in over the next few innings, but Northwest still tacked on a run apiece in the fifth and sixth innings. Chloe Summerford's RBI-double in the sixth helped the Rangers push the lead to its final point of 6-0.

Rogers went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Northwest, while seven other Rangers finished with one base hit. Northeast scattered all four of its base hits across the lineup.

Meeks fell to 7-5 for the Lady Tigers, despite issuing six strikeouts against three walks and eight base hits. 


Game 2 - #20 Northwest 7, Northeast 5

Trailing 4-0 entering the top of the seventh, Northwest successfully staged a seven-run rally to stun Northeast in the finale.

Fryar tied the game up for the Rangers with two outs and a 1-2 count, delivering an RBI-double to left field that scored Sommer Tyes from second. From there, the Rangers added three more runs to set up the win.

Northeast started off the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, thanks to a two-run double. In the third, the Lady Tigers added to the lead with a two-run homer, bringing the deficit to 4-0.

Northwest was able to keep the Lady Tigers off the board for the next three innings, but the Rangers were unable to match with hits at the plate. Finally, the rally began for Northwest in the top of the seventh, as Carly Dunigan delivered an RBI-single up the middle, scoring Kara Johnson from second.

A fielder's choice in Tyes' at-bat allowed Shelby Payne to score, bringing the score to 4-2 with two outs. Dunigan made it a one-run game by scoring on a throwing error, before Fryar's double tied the game up.

Northwest kept the runs coming in the top of the seventh, taking the lead on an RBI-single from Rogers and adding insurance runs on Hanna Grace Gillean's RBI-double to right-center and Johnson's RBI-single up the middle.

Northeast threatened with the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but Rogers successfully limited the damage, holding the Lady Tigers to one run.

Northwest finished with nine base hits in the win, highlighted by two each from Johnson and Rogers. Rogers, the Brandon native, also improved to 2-0 in the circle with her relief effort of Morgen Brewton, who struck out three and surrendered four runs in the first three innings. Read Full Article