SENATOBIA - A walk-off home run from Ellie Fryar provided Northwest with an 8-7 victory in Wednesday's opener against East Mississippi, while Morgen Brewton (20-2) pitched her way to eight strikeouts in a 6-3 Game 2 win.

Brewton also picked up the win for the 13th-ranked Rangers in the first game, which went to extra innings. The Mobile, Ala. native is one of only four Northwest pitchers to collect 20 wins or more in a single season, joining Gabby Dickerson (26 wins; 2022), Sarah Gill (25 wins; 2009) and Lacie McCulley (24 wins; 2005).

Additionally, Brewton's career record now stands at 34-8, moving to third in all-time wins, trailing only McCulley and Dickerson.

In the eight-inning Game 1 triumph, the Rangers used a two-run single from Aubrey Massing in the bottom of the seventh, forcing extra innings. After Brewton retired EMCC in order in the top of the eighth, Fryar teed off on the walk-off home run to clinch the win for Northwest.

In the finale, the Rangers shook off an early 3-0 hole, tying the game in the bottom of the first and adding runs in the third and sixth innings. Meanwhile, Brewton kept the Lions scoreless the rest of the way.

With the sweep, Northwest improved to 34-8 on the season and 15-7 in the MACCC. The Rangers are currently fifth in the latest conference standings, ahead of both Misissippi Gulf Coast and East Central, both tied for sixth and both a game back of NWCC.

Northwest will visit Meridian (21-28, 6-16 MACCC) on Friday, April 18, kicking off the final road swing of the regular season. The Rangers are also slated to visit Itawamba next Wednesday at 2/4 P.M.



Game 1 - #13 Northwest 8, East Mississippi 7 (8 inn.)

East Mississippi scored all of its runs in the fourth and seventh innings, but it was Northwest that picked up the last blow with Fryar's walk-off home run, her seventh of the season.

Sommer Tyes led off the scoring with an RBI-single to center in the top half of the first, but the Rangers were unable to build upon their narrow 1-0 lead for the next three innings.

In the fourth, the Lions came to life, taking a 2-1 lead on Sasha King's home run to left field. East Mississippi added two more runs in the frame, taking a 4-1 advantage.

However, the deficit didn't last long for Northwest, as Massing delivered a three-run bomb to right field, the freshman's first collegiate home run. Tied at 4-4, Tyes helped the Rangers regain the lead with a solo homer to right field.

East Mississippi regained the lead in the top of the seventh, thanks to a two-run triple from Victoria Irby and a sacrifice fly from Karen Wisher. Trailing 7-5, Massing stepped up again with a two-run single that scored Jenn Smith and Addison Owen, forcing extra innings and the eventual game-winner.

Northwest finished with 11 base hits in the win, the most recorded at home since March 13, when the Rangers finished with 13 in an 8-0 win against National Park College. Massing led the charge, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate, followed by a 2-for-3 effort from Tyes. Carly Dunigan was also credited with a triple, her only base hit of the contest.

Brewton picked up the win in the circle for Northwest, pitching four complete innings. She started the first three frames and later re-entered as the game went to extra innings, striking out two batters with no walks and three earned runs allowed.

Abby Rogers also tossed four innings in relief, garnering a strikeout against three walks against four earned runs.

Gail Wisher (8-10) went the distance for the Lions, finishing with a strikeout and seven earned runs allowed. East Mississippi finished with nine base hits, including two each from Wisher, Wisher and Brianna Byrd.


Game 2 - #13 Northwest 6, East Mississippi 3

Brewton's solid showing in the circle was paired with nine Northwest hits, as the Rangers earned the home sweep of East Mississippi.

Though the Lions got the early three-run advantage in the top of the first, Northwest wasted no time answering back. With a single up the middle from Tyes, a sacrifice fly from Lulu Franks and an RBI-double from Owen, the Rangers knotted the game at 3-3 in the home half of the first.

Franks helped Northwest take the lead in the bottom of the third inning, as her double scored Tyes for the go-ahead run. Madison Weeks and Thenya Kennedy helped the Rangers add insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, as Weeks' double to center scored Owen and Kennedy's grounder scored Emma Jennings.

Though Byrd led off the seventh with a base hit, Brewton retired the next three Lions' batters, sealing the sweep.

Brewton recorded her ninth complete game of the season, dishing eight strikeouts against a walk and three early runs allowed. Allee Bennett (1-5) also went the distance for East Mississippi, allowing six earned runs against a single strikeout.

Owen finished 2-for-3 with a double to lead Northwest, while Savannah Fralix led the Lions with a double and three RBIs.
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