ELLISVILLE - Jones College pieced together two runs apiece in the second and third innings, holding Northwest to a single run in Friday's 5-1 NJCAA Region 23 Tournament opener.
Northwest left two runners stranded in the top of the second, and the Lady Bobcats took advantage in the home half of the inning, scoring on an RBI-double from Makynlie Jones and a sacrifice fly to right field from Emma Moore.Â
After the Rangers left a runner on base in the top of the third, Jones College further added to its lead, scoring two more runs on an Emily Mizelle homer, pushing Northwest into a 4-0 hole.
Although an RBI-single from
Abby Rogers helped Northwest close the gap to 4-1 in the top of the fifth, the Lady Bobcats matched the run with a sac fly from Mizelle. The Rangers were held to just one hit over the final two frames, despite bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs in the seventh.
Jones College finished with eight base hits, led by two from Jones and Brooklynn Montana. Reanna Nieman (17-5) went the distance for the Lady Bobcats in the circle, striking out six batters against six walks.
Northwest compiled seven base hits in the loss, led by
Thenya Kennedy's 3-for-4 effort. Rogers also went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while tossing the final 3.2 innings of relief, issuing three strikeouts against a walk and an earned run.
Morgen Brewton (13-6) took the loss for the Rangers, issuing a pair of strikeouts against a walk and four earned runs.
With the loss, Northwest fell to 27-19 on the season. The Rangers will now turn their attention to Saturday afternoon's elimination game against No. 6 Pearl River, after the Lady Wildcats were upset with a 9-4 loss to East Central.Â
First pitch between Northwest and Pearl River is slated for 4 P.M. The winner of that contest will face the loser of Jones College and East Central at 7 P.M.
