SENATOBIA - Two games resulted in two early deficits for the eighth-ranked Northwest softball program in Saturday's twinbill against Mississippi Gulf Coast, but the Rangers were only able to complete the comeback once.
Northwest won 4-2 in the opener against the Bulldogs, but dropped a 6-3 decision in extra innings of the finale to MGCCC.
In the opener,
Morgen Brewton (18-2) picked up the win and tossed six innings of work, while
Abby Rogers earned her sixth save of the season.
Thenya Kennedy led the Rangers' efforts at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.
Northwest scattered six hits across its lineup in the finale, including a game-tying home run from
Ellie Fryar that prompted extra innings. Rogers (6-5) was handed the loss in five innings of relief, while starter
Catelyn Brown struck out three batters and surrendered three runs.
With the split, the Rangers moved to 32-8 overall and 13-7 in the MACCC, while the Bulldogs improved to 30-14 on the season and 11-9 in conference play.
Northwest is slated to host East Mississippi on Wednesday, April 16 in one of the Rangers' two final home doubleheaders. The Lions (12-20, 8-12 MACCC) are coming off a recent sweep of Meridian.
Wednesday's games will be carried on Ranger TV.
Game 1 - #8 Northwest 4, Mississippi Gulf Coast 2
It took until the fifth inning for Northwest to get a base hit, but the frame sparked a 4-2 comeback victory for the Rangers.
Caroline Batson got Mississippi Gulf Coast on the board early with a solo homer to left field. Though the ball was initially ruled foul, the call was ultimately overturned, giving the Bulldogs the lead with two outs in the first inning.
With the bases loaded in the top of the second inning, Irina Sanford dropped a single to left field, tacking on another run and stretching the lead to 2-0.
Brewton settled in after that, keeping the Bulldogs scoreless over the next three innings. However, Karley Rouse also pitched a no-hitter through four complete innings, keeping the lead in tact for Mississippi Gulf Coast.
A leadoff single from
Emma Jennings finally gave Northwest its spark in the fifth inning, later scoring the first Ranger run on a double to left field from
Lulu Franks. Kennedy and
Marleigh Mancini followed with back-to-back base hits to load the bases, and Fryar tied the game with her single to right field.
With the game still knotted up at 2-2 in the sixth inning, Northwest loaded the bases on a first base error. With two outs on the board, Kennedy roped a two-run single down the left field line, scoring Jennings and
Addison Owen for the go-ahead runs.
In the top of the seventh, Rogers retired the side and captured her eighth career save, preserving the win for the Rangers.
Brewton earned the win for Northwest, striking out four batters against two walks and two earned runs. Rouse (14-5) was handed the loss for Mississippi Gulf Coast, despite going the distance with five strikeouts against a walk and two earned runs allowed.
Savannah Wilbanks led the Bulldogs' efforts at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a double. Abby Lindsey was also credited with a double in her lone base hit.
Game 2 - Mississippi Gulf Coast 6, #8 Northwest 3 (8 inn.)
Despite Fryar's tying home run in the bottom of the seventh, Northwest was unable to get the winning run across and Mississippi Gulf Coast won the game with a three-run effort in extra innings.
Emma Thomson started things off with a double to right center, plating two runs for the Bulldogs. With the Rangers unable to answer over the following two frames, Batson's single up the middle made it a 3-0 advantage for MGCCC.
A leadoff error by the shortstop allowed
Sommer Tyes to reach safely in the bottom of the fourth and
Carleigh Calarco followed with a single to center field. With two on and one out,
Kylie Frost singled to the shortstop, allowing Tyes to score the first Northwest run.
With two outs on the board, Franks singled to the shortstop, allowing Calarco to score, bringing the Rangers back within a 3-2 margin.
Rogers sent the Bulldogs down in order over the next two innings, but Northwest was still unable to bring in the go-ahead run. Meanwhile, MGCCC tried to add some insurance runs in the top of the seventh, but the bases were left loaded.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Fryar smashed a solo bomb to left field, tying the game at 3-3. Tyes then doubled with two outs, but a call to the bullpen helped the Bulldogs force extras, as Olivia Falcon picked up the strikeout of Calarco.
Mississippi Gulf Coast put two runners on with two outs in the top of the eighth and Wilbanks doubled to right center, pushing the Bulldogs ahead 5-3. A.B. Parrish then brought in an insurance run on the next at-bat, widening the gap to 6-3.
No comeback was in store for the Rangers in the bottom of the eighth, as Falcon retired the side, confirming the split for MGCCC.
Northwest was held to six base hits in the loss, highlighted by a home run from Fryar and a double from Tyes. The Bulldogs finished the game with 12 hits, with Batson, Parrish and Sanford accounting for two apiece.Â
Falcon (9-3) earned the win in relief for MGCCC, while starter Madison Laiche tossed the first four frames, striking out a pair of batters against no walks and no earned runs allowed. Brooklynn Peterson and Brighley Crayon also pieced together 2.2 innings of relief, combining for a pair of strikeouts against two walks and one earned run allowed.
