ALBERTVILLE, Ala. - Northwest outfielder Carly Dunigan was clearly chomping at the bit to begin her sophomore season.

Dunigan, a Senatobia native, had an eye-popping performance in Friday's 10-1 and 9-5 wins against Snead State and Southern Union State, finishing 6-for-7 on the day with three triples, a double and four RBIs. The wins pushed the Rangers to a 2-0 start for the fourth straight season.

Fellow sophomores Ellie Fryar and Thenya Kennedy also fared well at the plate, with Fryar going 4-for-6 with a triple and an RBI, followed by a 3-for-6 effort with four RBIs from Kennedy. In the circle, Morgen Brewton picked up the win in the opener and Abby Rogers entered in relief to get the victory in the nightcap.

Northwest will wrap up its slate in the Sand Mountain Classic on Saturday, facing a pair of nationally-ranked opponents. The Rangers take on 14th-ranked Central Alabama at 12:30 P.M., followed by a matchup with No. 16 Marion Military Institute at 3 P.M.


Game 1 - Northwest 10, Snead State 1 (5 inn.)

A combined seven runs in the first two innings helped Northwest jump out to a large lead on Snead State, as the Rangers opened up the weekend with a commanding 10-1 victory.

After a leadoff walk to Kennedy in the top of the first inning, Fryar's triple gave Northwest a quick 1-0 lead. She would score seconds later on a passed ball and the Rangers took a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the first.

Northwest didn't let up in the top of the second, as Kennedy drove in Jenn Smith from third on a two-out single. Dunigan then scored two on a two-run double, stretching the Rangers' lead to 7-0. 

A fielder's choice off the bat of Kennedy helped Northwest push its lead to 8-0 in the third inning, and Dunigan's score off a wild pitch in the fourth gave the Rangers the 9-0 advantage. Sommer Tyes would wrap up the scoring by stealing home, closing out the fourth inning with a 10-0 lead.

Although Snead State broke up the shutout with an RBI base hit in the bottom of the fourth, Northwest failed to cave any further, as Catelyn Brown wrapped up the fifth inning in relief of Morgen Brewton. 

Dunigan led all Rangers at the plate with a 4-for-4 effort, which was highlighted by a double, two triples and a pair of RBIs. Fryar also went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Kennedy finished 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.

Northwest outmatched the Lady Parsons in total hits, 11-4. Snead State scattered all four of its base hits through the lineup, with Allie Graydon accounting for a double and the only extra-base hit.

Brewton (1-0) went four innings with three strikeouts and one earned run surrendered. Ella Grace Hood was handed the loss for the Lady Parsons, allowing seven runs on six hits in 1.2 innings of work.

Kailey Hyatt finished the final 3.1 innings in the circle for Snead State, striking out four batters and surrendering two earned runs.



Game 2 - Northwest 9, Southern Union State 5 (6 inn.)

An ugly start to the nightcap turned into an impressive rally for Northwest, as the Rangers took a rain-shortened 9-5 decision against Southern Union State.

Although the Lady Bison started off with a leadoff triple and a few base hits, Abby Rogers broke free of a bases loaded jam with two outs, keeping the deficit at 3-0 in the first inning.

Dunigan and Northwest wasted no time going to work, putting a run back on the board with a triple in the bottom of the first inning. In the third inning, a two-run single from Tyes knotted the contest at 3-3, only for another Ranger run to give NWCC the 4-3 lead entering the fourth inning.

With Southern Union State unable to find any answers over the next couple frames, Northwest piled on to its newfound lead, plating three runs in the bottom of the fourth and two more runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Both teams finished with 10 hits in the contest, led by two apiece from Dunigan, Fryar and Kennedy. Dunigan ended the game with a triple and two RBIs, while Marleigh Mancini finished with a double.

Three Lady Bison finished with two hits each, including a solo home run from Julianna Lovvorn. Edy Gavin and Makinley Turner also posted one triple apiece for Southern Union State.

Rogers (1-0) tossed 5.2 frames with four strikeouts and only one earned run allowed, while Mariana Whaley (0-1) surrendered six runs in 3.1 innings. Morgan Martin helped slow the Rangers' comeback a little over the final 2.2 innings, striking out two Rangers.  Read Full Article