FULTON - Northwest lost an early lead to drop Game 1 to Itawamba, but the 12th-ranked Rangers held off a rally from the Indians in the finale, escaping with a 5-4 victory on Wednesday afternoon.
Northwest combined for 18 hits on the afternoon, led by six from
Jacob Hill, including a triple and a home run.
Gavin McCoy (6-2) earned the Game 2 victory, while
Jackson Jenkins garnered his first career save.
Northwest will close out the regular season with a big road test at No. 2 Pearl River on Saturday, April 27. The doubleheader is scheduled for 2/5 P.M. in Poplarville, with live broadcast coverage available on prccmedia.com.
Game 1 - Itawamba 6, Northwest 4
Despite scoring two early runs in the top of the first inning, Northwest could not preserve its lead down the stretch, as a four-run frame from Itawamba in the sixth inning helped lift the Indians to the 6-4 win.
After Itawamba closed the gap to 2-1 in the bottom of the second,
Jacob Hill's solo home run to left field led off the third inning for Northwest, allowing the Rangers to take a 3-1 lead. However, the Indians responded with a run in the bottom of the third, pulling back within 3-2.
The next two innings went scoreless for
Scott Sharp on the mound, but the Indians capitalized in the bottom of the sixth, taking a comfortable 6-3 advantage. Northwest was unable to respond for a few frames, but the Rangers loaded the bases in the top of the ninth.
Peyton Martin and
Levi Lang nearly hit grand slams to left field, but both balls drifted foul at the last minute, and Northwest was ultimately held to a single run off a sacrifice fly.
Although Sharp fell to 8-2 with the loss, the sophomore lasted six complete innings, striking out two batters against three walks.
Cy Craig and
Baker Walker combined for two scoreless innings of relief, with both pitchers holding ICC to no base hits.
Hill's 4-for-5 effort led Northwest at the plate and
Matthew Roncalli also finished with a double.
Game 2 - Northwest 5, Itawamba 4
Itawamba managed to rally in the seventh inning of Game 2, but the Indians left the tying run stranded at third base, as Northwest avoided the sweep.
Once again, the Rangers took a quick lead in the top of the first, scoring a pair of runs and adding another in the third, stretching the lead to 3-0. Northwest tacked on another run in the fourth, but Itawamba answered back with two runs in the home half of the inning, closing the gap to 4-2.
Although Northwest scored again in the fifth, the Rangers were held scoreless over the next two frames, keeping the Indians within striking distance. Itawamba took advantage of four walks and a pair of wild pitches to score two runs, but a pop fly to Roncalli ended the threat from the Indians.
McCoy threw six full innings for Northwest, striking out four batters against two walks and two earned runs.
James Smith issued the first strikeout in the seventh, but was pulled after two walks. Jenkins also managed to walk two Itawamba hitters, but finished out the game with his first career save.
Northwest finished with 10 hits in the victory, led by two apiece from Hill, Smith and
Cade Leatherwood. Hill recorded a triple and Smith finished with a homer, his sixth of the season.
