BOONEVILLE - Northwest picked up a solid 4-0 shutout against Itawamba on Wednesday afternoon, but surrendered six runs in the first inning to Northeast, falling in the nightcap by an 11-9 final.
Sophomore
Gavin McCoy tossed five shutout innings on the mound, picking up six strikeouts and the win against ICC, while the Rangers scattered four hits through the lineup. In the loss to the Tigers, Northwest finished with 11 hits, but used five pitchers for the evening.
Levi Lang finished a combined 3-for-4 from the plate, while freshman
Hallas Lawson went 2-for-3 in the loss to Northeast.
Walker Maranto also hit a rare inside-the-park home run in the victory against the Indians.
With the split, the Rangers moved to 13-4 overall. Northwest will return home Saturday, March 1, hosting SAU Tech for a 1/4 P.M. doubleheader.
Game 1 - Northwest 4, Itawamba 0
A strong outing on the mound from McCoy (3-1) helped Northwest pick up a shutout victory against Itawamba.
McCoy, a native of Saltillo, pitched five complete innings with six strikeouts, allowing three hits and just one walk.
Will Howell and
Connor McCaslin also pitched in relief, combining for two strikeouts over two complete innings.
Northwest scored two of its runs in the top half of the second and one each in the third and fourth innings. Both teams finished with four base hits, highlighted by Maranto's inside-the-park home run and a double from
Jackson Jenkins.
Everett Thompson was handed the loss for the Indians, despite issuing four strikeouts against a pair of walks in three complete frames. Thompson surrendered the first three runs from Northwest, followed by one from Aidan Williams.
Game 2 - Northeast 11, Northwest 9
Despite starting off with three runs in the top half of the first inning, Northwest fell victim to a six-run surge from Northeast in the bottom of the first, eventually falling by an 11-9 final.
Walks plagued the Rangers in the bottom of the first, as Northeast took six free passes. The Tigers also stretched their lead with two runs apiece over the second and third innings, pushing the score to 10-3.
Northwest did rally back with a five-run effort in the top of the fourth, closing the gap to 10-8. However, Northeast tacked on an additional run in the home half of the inning, further widening the lead to 11-8.
After leaving runners stranded in the fifth and sixth innings, the Rangers got a run closer in the top of the seventh, but Carter Wells slammed the door on the rally in the bottom of the seventh.
A combined 10 pitchers were used between both teams, with
Brennan Jones (1-1) taking the loss for Northwest, striking out one batter against four walks and five total runs allowed.
Jace Robinson finished out the first inning, walking two batters and allowing three total runs.
Mason Gillentine proved to be the most effective of the remaining Ranger relievers, tossing four strikeouts against two walks, an unearned run and one base hit given up.
Gideon Deaton and
Tyler Sullivan also combined for three innings of action, with Sullivan pitching two strikeouts and a shutout sixth inning.
Lang finished 2-for-2 with a double to lead Northwest at the plate, while Maranto,
Lake Reed and
John Whit Snopek ended the night with one double each.
Walker Sanders also went 1-for-4 with three RBIs.
Northeast was limited to just four hits in the win and M.J. Parimore picked up the win for the Tigers, pitching 3.2 innings with four strikeouts, four walks and eight earned runs. Wells picked up the save for the Tigers, but Carson Montgomery also struck out three Rangers over a full inning pitched.
