SENATOBIA - Sophomore
Ellie Fryar has been one of several Northwest players on a tear at the plate to start the 2025 season.
Entering Thursday's doubleheader against Shawnee tied for the career record in triples, the Dumas native blasted a shot to left center in the bottom of the fourth and turned on the jets, recording her record-breaking ninth triple, helping the 11th-ranked Rangers to an 8-0 run-rule victory. Northwest would also go on to win the finale by an 11-1 decision.
Fryar, who has six triples this season alone, broke the career record set by
Kaylee Owens just last season. Now, the Pine Grove School alumna is also one away from breaking the single-season record, also held by Owens.
As a team, the Rangers are now up to 15 triples on the season, the fourth-most recorded by any Northwest squad in a single season. The 2014 unit still holds the all-time record with 22 triples, followed by 21 from the 2023 team.
There were plenty of other highlights in the doubleheader as well. Sophomore ace
Morgen Brewton struck out nine batters in a complete six-inning effort, recording her 14th career complete game and her fourth career shutout, moving her to ninth and sixth respectively in those career record categories. The Mobile, Ala. native also moved from ninth to eighth in career strikeouts (155), surpassing Alicia Malone's total of 153 set from 2007-08.
Five of the Rangers' 11 hits in the opener were for extra bases, while
Thenya Kennedy recorded an inside-the-park home run in the nightcap. The Yazoo City native went 5-for-5 on the day, and
Abby Rogers tossed five strikeouts in the second game, with no walks or runs given up in three complete frames.
With the sweep, Northwest improved to 13-1, the program's best start since the 2023 season. The Rangers will take a six-game winning streak on the road to Gadsden State on Monday, March 3 and Jackson State (Tenn.) on Saturday, March 8.
Game 1 - #11 Northwest 8, Shawnee 0 (6 inn.)
Though it took three innings for either team to make a dent in the scoreboard, Northwest picked up three runs in the third and three more in the fourth, setting the stage for a six-inning run-rule shutout.
Two runners were left stranded for the Rangers in the bottom of the first, but Northwest finally got the offense to click in the home half of the third. Freshman
Jenn Smith singled through the left side to lead off the inning, followed by a walk drawn by Kennedy. After Fryar was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded for
Sommer Tyes, who delivered a two-run single past the shortstop. The Baldwyn native then stole second and rounded two bases on a subsequent error, giving NWCC a 3-0 advantage.
Shawnee picked up a single to lead off the fourth inning, but Brewton punched out the final two batters, denying any runs for the Saints. In turn, the Rangers responded with a single up the middle from
Emma Jennings and an RBI-double from Smith, followed by Kennedy's RBI-single, pushing the Northwest lead to 5-0.
Fryar's record-breaking triple closed out the scoring in the bottom of the fourth, as the Rangers' lead was extended to 6-0.
Shawnee was sent down silently in the top of the fifth and again in the sixth. Though Northwest was unable to continue its momentum into the bottom of the fifth, Jennings led off the bottom of the sixth with a double, which was followed by an RBI-double from
Kaylee Reed.
Marleigh Mancini then tripled to center field, scoring Reed for the walk-off winner.
Jennings, Kennedy and Smith finished with a pair of base hits to lead the Rangers, while Alayna Shehorn accounted for two of the Saints' three base hits. Chloe Dassing was handed the loss for Shawnee, tossing 3.2 frames with a strikeout, a walk and six earned runs allowed.
Brook McCray pitched 1.1 innings of relief for the Saints, surrendering the final two runs.
Game 2 - #11 Northwest 11, Shawnee 1 (5 inn.)
Northwest combined for nine runs across the second and third innings, setting the stage for an 11-1 victory in the nightcap.
A sacrifice fly from Tyes gave the Rangers their first run in the bottom of the first inning, and freshmanÂ
Carleigh Calarco led off the second with a triple. Jennings followed with a sac fly to left field, scoring Calarco and making it a 2-0 lead for Northwest.
With one out on the board in the bottom of the second, sophomore
Lulu Franks doubled to left field and Kennedy followed with her inside-the-park home run. After Fryar offered a single through the left side, an error in Dunigan's at-bat paved the way for a two-run double from Tyes, giving Northwest a 6-0 advantage.
With two outs on the board,
Addison Owen doubled to left field to add yet another Ranger run, widening the gap to 7-0. After Rogers retired Shawnee in order in the top of the third, Northwest got an additional three runs in the home half of the third, as Franks scored on an error in right field and Dunigan hit a two-run single up the middle.
Although the Saints finally got on the board with two outs in the top of the fourth, it didn't take the Rangers long to add to their lead once again. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Reed drew a walk and singles from Mancini and Franks loaded up the bases. Freshman
Aubrey Massing then drew a walk in her first collegiate plate appearance, scoring Reed for the eventual winning run.
Freshman
Alyssa Boswood finished the job in the top of the fifth, retiring Shawnee in order to preserve the run-rule victory.
Northwest finished with 11 hits in the victory, led by Kennedy's 3-for-3 effort. Franks also finished 2-for-2 at the plate and Tyes finished with three RBIs.
Rogers (1-0) picked up the win in the circle, tossing three scoreless innings with no walks and five strikeouts recorded. Boswood and Brown pitched the final two innings each, with Brown allowing the lone Saints' run in the fourth.
Shawnee scattered four hits through the lineup, including a double each from Kylie Kleppin and Kaitlyn Wagoner. Taylor Reiman was handed the loss, allowing four earned runs and seven total through 1.2 frames. Wagoner tossed the final 2.1 innings, surrendering four runs (one earned) and three walks.
