SENATOBIA - Thursday ended the same way it started for Northwest baseball - on a winning note.

Hosting a round-robin tripleheader against East Mississippi and Freed-Hardeman JV, the Rangers recorded a 6-3 win against the Lions on Thursday morning, before earning a 4-0 shutout against EMCC in the nightcap.

With the victories, Northwest improved to 17-4 on the season, while head coach Mark Carson recorded his 556th career win. The sweep allowed Carson to tie Jim Miles (1976-97) for the Rangers' all-time wins record, with one more victory needed to surpass Miles. 

Northwest begins MACCC competition on Wednesday, March 12 against 12th-ranked Jones College. The doubleheader will take place in Senatobia at 1/4 P.M., with broadcast coverage available on Ranger TV.



Game 1 - Northwest 6, Freed-Hardeman JV 3

Northwest picked up three of its six runs in the bottom of the first and held off a small rally from the Lions in the top of the seventh, as the Rangers picked up the win against Freed-Hardeman JV.

Though the Lions drew a pair of walks in the top half of the first inning, McClain Ray maneuvered through to deliver the scoreless frame in his only inning on the mound. Meanwhile, Freed-Hardeman JV starter Ryan Sanchez issued four straight walks to lead off the bottom of the first, and Walker Sanders followed with an RBI-single to center, giving Northwest a quick 2-0 lead.

After Sanchez was pulled in favor of Patrick Cantrell, the Lions recorded two quick outs, but not before Jackson Jenkins allowed Tyler Sullivan to score from third, stretching the Rangers' lead to 3-0.

Connor McCaslin (3-0) took the mound for Northwest in the top half of the second, and tossed the next two frames. The redshirt sophomore kept Freed-Hardeman JV off the board for two of his three total innings pitched, allowing an earned run off a single from Gage Burt in the top of the third.

Meanwhile, the Rangers tacked on another run in the home half of the second inning, set up by a leadoff double to left field from Rob Hayes. With two outs on the board, Hallas Lawson brought in Hayes on a single to right center, giving Northwest a 4-0 lead.

Both teams went down quietly in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Rangers gained some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Walker Maranto led off the frame with a double to right center, followed by an RBI-double the opposite direction from Hayes. Two walks and a fielder's choice loaded the bases, and a wild pitch allowed Hayes to score from third, pushing the Northwest lead to 6-1.

However, the Lions did not go away quietly in the top of the seventh. Back-to-back walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, and Burt's two-run single to left field closed the gap to 6-3. With just one out on the board, Will Howell entered the game and forced a fly out to center and a strikeout of Dean Bechman, earning the first save of his collegiate career.

Northwest finished the game with seven base hits, including five for extra bases. Hayes and Walker Sanders led the Rangers with two hits each, with both of Hayes' hits resulting in doubles. Maranto, Sanders and Mason Gillentine also finished the game with a double apiece.

There was also no shortage of stolen bases for Northwest, as the Rangers collected seven total in the victory. Freshman Meyer Maddox ran his season total to 15-for-15 on the basepaths with four stolen bases.

Five pitchers were used for Northwest, with McCaslin's three innings earning him the win. Brennan Jones and Jace Robinson combined for 2.1 innings of relief, with Jones tallying three strikeouts and no walks or runs surrendered.

As for Freed-Hardeman JV, the Lions were held to four base hits, including two from Burt. Sanchez was handed the loss after failing to record an out in the first inning and allowing three earned runs. Joe Romines and Justin Smarr were each effective in their combined two innings of relief, as both pitchers accounted for two strikeouts apiece with no runs allowed.


Game 2 - Northwest 4, East Mississippi 0

Northwest pitchers Sullivan, Gavin McCoy and Eli Deberry combined for seven shutout innings in a 4-0 win against East Mississippi.

McCoy (4-1) tossed five frames with three hits allowed, four walks and a strikeout, while Sullivan and Deberry combined for three strikeouts over the final two innings.

Both teams were retired in order in the first inning, but East Mississippi threatened in the top of the second. With one out, Hugh LeMasters singled to left field and a walk to Greer Manning put two runners on for the Lions. However, a fielder's choice and a strikeout of Jackson Rodgers ended the threat with two runners left stranded.

Northwest also tried to strike first in the home half of the second, as Levi Lang led off the frame with a single through the left side. Mason McMillin also drew a walk in the inning, but the Rangers flew out three times and finished empty-handed.

Though EMCC managed to load the bases in the top of the third, McCoy got out of the inning with no damage done, keeping the game scoreless. However, that all changed in the bottom of the third, when a leadoff single from Austin Batts set the scoring in motion for Northwest.

Batts later stole second base and John Whit Snopek reached on a walk, only to be thrown out on a fielder's choice at third. With two outs and two runners on, Maranto stole second and both he and Batts would cross the plate, thanks to Lang's two-run single to left center.

East Mississippi left one base runner stranded over the final four frames, unable to push a run across. Meanwhile, the Rangers picked up a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, as Lang's triple set up an RBI-single from Sanders. Leading 3-0, two errors on the same play by the Lions' third baseman allowed Sanders to score, extending the Northwest advantage to 4-0.

Deberry then came on to close out the game in the seventh, garnering a pair of strikeouts.

Both teams relied heavily on pitching, combining for just nine base hits. East Mississippi scattered four hits throughout its lineup, while the Rangers were led by a 3-for-3 effort from Lang.

Evan Hilliard (1-1) was handed the loss for the Lions, despite a strong 5.1 innings of work. Hilliard struck out four batters and issued two walks, while allowing three earned runs. Tyler Harden pitched the final 0.2 frames of relief, surrendering a walk and an unearned run with one strikeout credited. Read Full Article