JACKSON, Tenn. - Following multiple ties and lead changes in Monday's tug-of-war at Jackson State (Tenn.), Northwest dropped a close 9-8 non-conference loss to the GreenJays.
Both teams finished with 10 hits apiece, as the Rangers fell to 25-10 on the season. Jackson State improved to 14-17-1 with the victory.
Northwest opened the game with a 1-0 advantage, before surrendering two runs in the bottom of the first to the GreenJays. The Rangers responded with two more runs in the top of the second, regaining a 3-2 lead, only for Jackson State to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third.
Once again, the Rangers added a run in the top of the fourth to regain the lead, only for the GreenJays to tie it up at 4-4 entering the fifth inning.Â
Though Northwest tacked on another run in the top of the fifth, Jackson State answered once again, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-5 lead. The Rangers rallied back to tie the game in the top of the sixth, only for the GreenJays to score three in the home half of the inning, gaining a 9-6 advantage.
Northwest scraped across a run in the top of the eighth and pulled back within a run in the top of the ninth, thanks to a solo homer from
Hayes Davis. However, the Rangers were ultimately unable to force another tie, as the GreenJays survived.
Cade Greer went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Northwest, finishing with a pair of doubles. Freshman
Walker Maranto was also 2-for-4, while
Levi Lang finished 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
On the mound,
Payton Sanders started the first four innings, striking out five batters against five walks and three earned runs.
Carson Fox,
Cy Craig and
Cooper Mitze pieced together the remaining innings, with Fox and Mitze striking out one batter each.
Northwest will step back into conference play on Wednesday, April 3, traveling to Coahoma for a 12/3 P.M. doubleheader.
