SENATOBIA - Two strong outings in the circle from Morgen Brewton and Abby Rogers helped lift No. 9 Northwest to an 8-0 and 6-4 sweep of 13th-ranked Pearl River on Sunday afternoon.

Brewton (11-1) went the distance in the five-inning run-rule victory, striking out four batters with no runs allowed. In the finale, Rogers (6-1) entered the circle in the first inning in relief of Catelyn Brown, delivering seven strikeouts against a walk and an earned run.

Meanwhile, the Rangers were also solid at the plate, especially in the opener. Carly Dunigan and Kylie Frost accounted for four of the team's eight base hits, including Frost's walk-off double to center field in the fifth inning. The freshman catcher from Decaturville, Tenn. also finished with a triple.

In the second game, Northwest scattered all seven of its base hits through the lineup, highlighted by doubles from Frost, Ellie Fryar and Thenya Kennedy.

With the sweep, the Rangers improved to 21-3 on the season and 2-2 in the MACCC. The Wildcats dropped to 18-9 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

Northwest will aim to keep its four-game winning streak up on Wednesday, when Mississippi Delta pays a visit to Senatobia. The Lady Trojans (8-18, 0-6 MACCC) are in the midst of a six-game losing streak, with their most recent losses coming to East Central last Thursday.

Broadcast coverage will be provided on Ranger TV for Wednesday's doubleheader. 


Game 1 - #9 Northwest 8, #13 Pearl River 0 (5 inn.)

Addison Owen's three-run double to center field gave Northwest an early lead and set the tone for the eventual run-rule victory.

After Pearl River left a pair of runners stranded on base in the top of the first, Kennedy led off the bottom of the inning with a single up the middle. Fryar then reached base on a fielder's choice and a single from Dunigan put two runners on, followed by a walk to Sommer Tyes which loaded the bases.

Owen then cleared the bags with a deep shot to center, plating all three runs. Though the Wildcats followed with two quick outs, Brewton kept Pearl River off the board over the next couple of frames, keeping the shutout in tact.

Northwest would then add some insurance runs in the fourth, thanks in part to a leadoff triple from Frost. After Aubrey Massing entered as the pinch runner, Marleigh Mancini's grounder to second allowed the fourth run of the game to score.

With one out in the home half of the fifth inning, Fryar doubled to center and Dunigan followed with a single to short. The Rangers added to the lead with a bunt single to third from Tyes and a wild pitch extended the score to 6-0.

Frost then blasted a double up the middle, scoring Owen and Tyes to end the game in run-rule fashion.

Ana-Grace Garcia (6-3) was issued the loss for Pearl River, despite issuing five strikeouts against a pair of walks and seven earned runs. The Wildcats were held to just three hits, highlighted by a double from Carsyn Mott.


Game 2 - #9 Northwest 6, #13 Pearl River 4

Pearl River struck first with a three-run first inning, only for Northwest to quickly respond with a three-run frame of its own en route to a 6-4 victory.

Natalee Eaves doubled to center field in the top of the first, scoring Kai Goodman, who led off the game with a single. Then, Cailey Pervel blasted a two-run homer, stretching the early advantage to 3-0.

It was then that Rogers entered the game in relief of Brown, and Pearl River would be held without another run until the sixth. Meanwhile, the Rangers countered with their own three-run effort in the bottom of the first, as Kennedy led off with a double and scored on Fryar's double to left.

Tyes then reached on a single and stole second base, while Fryar simultaneously took off from third base. Frost then doubled down the left field line, scoring Tyes for the tying run.

Neither team would score again until the third inning, when the Rangers plated two additional runs. Owen singled to right field to score Fryar and Carleigh Calarco's single up the middle scored Dunigan from third, pushing the lead to 5-3.

Needing a spark for the Wildcats in the sixth, Peyton Hoffmayer made the most of her pinch hit opportunity, delivering a single to the outfield, scoring Pervel and closing the gap to 5-4. However, Northwest tacked on an insurance run in the bottom half of the same inning, with a leadoff error allowing Calarco to reach base. A walk and a single followed, loading the bases for Fryar's groundout to first, which allowed Mancini to score.

Mott delivered a single for Pearl River in the top of the seventh, but Rogers sent Goodman down swinging for the third and final out.

Rogers finished the game with 117 pitches thrown, going toe-to-toe against Lizzie Meeks in what turned out to be a pitcher's duel for six innings. Meeks (3-1) also entered in relief for the Wildcats in the second inning, issuing seven strikeouts against a walk and an earned run.

Gracey Harbour started the game for Pearl River and was pulled after the first inning. She tossed one strikeout against no walks, and received the no-decision.

Goodman and Pervel combined for four of the Wildcats' eight base hits. Read Full Article