SENATOBIA - Behind a 5-for-7 effort at the plate from
Thenya Kennedy and a pair of strong pitching performances by
Morgen Brewton and
Catelyn Brown, Northwest remained unbeaten on the season with a pair of 8-0 and 9-1 run-rule wins against Missouri State-West Plains on Tuesday afternoon.
Ellie Fryar also combined to go 3-for-4 at the plate with two triples and three RBIs, as the Rangers combined for 20 base hits.
Sommer Tyes also hit a pair of home runs on the afternoon.
For the second consecutive outing, Brewton (3-0) tallied eight strikeouts and her second complete game of the season. In the nightcap, Brown captured her first collegiate victory, striking out five batters across four full innings of work.
Now 6-0 on the season, Northwest will have a week-long break before returning to action at Jefferson College on Wednesday, February 12 at 1/3 P.M.
Game 1 - Northwest 8, Missouri State-West Plains 0 (5 inn.)
Tyes' first homer of the season and three extra base hits were the highlights of a five-inning shutout against Missouri State-West Plains on Tuesday afternoon.
Northwest led 1-0 entering the second inning, before adding two runs in the second and another in the third. Leading 4-0, the Rangers broke things open in the bottom of the fourth, tacking on four additional runs before Brewton slammed the door in the top half of the fifth.
Kennedy led the offensive efforts for Northwest, finishing 3-for-3 at the plate with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored. Freshman
Emma Jennings also went 2-for-2 with a triple and two runs scored, while
Kylie Frost got a double and two RBIs in her lone base hit.
Brewton surrendered just one base hit in the contest with no walks allowed. The lone base hit for the Grizzlies came off the bat of Alexis Funkhouser and pitcher Trista Simpson threw all four innings for Missouri State-West Plains, striking out two batters against two walks, seven earned runs and nine hits.
Game 2 - Northwest 9, Missouri State-West Plains 1 (6 inn.)
Using 11 base hits and a solid four innings in the circle from Brown, Northwest came away with another run-rule victory in the nightcap.
Missouri State-West Plains surrendered three Ranger runs in the home half of the first inning and three more in the bottom of the third. Leading 6-0, Northwest tacked on five more in the fifth inning and the winning run in the bottom of the sixth.
Aundrea Thurston was able to spoil the shutout with an RBI-double in the top of the fourth, but relief pitcher
Abby Rogers closed out the final two innings with four strikeouts, slamming the door on any hopes of a Grizzlies' rally.
Seven of the Rangers' hits were for extra bases, highlighted by another home run from Tyes and a pair of triples from Fryar. Additionally, Rogers,
Carly Dunigan,
Lindsey Gillis and
Cadence Rolison finished with doubles.
Missouri State-West Plains ended the game with three hits, including another double from Maggie Painter. Kennedy Ross was handed the loss for the Grizzlies, allowing six earned runs and nine base hits through five full frames.
Amelia Jenkins also had a brief relief appearance for Missouri State-West Plains, walking one batter and surrendering the winning run.
