SENATOBIA - In Friday's doubleheader between Northwest and Meridian, both teams experienced being on the right and wrong ends of two blowout games.

Northwest surrendered seven runs in the second inning of Game 1 and allowed Meridian to score 12 more over the final four frames in a 19-9 loss in a shortened seven-inning affair. However, the Rangers bounced back with 17 base hits in the nightcap, earning a 12-2 run-rule victory in six innings.

Tyler Sullivan (4-1) pitched 5.2 innings in the win for Northwest, while Hallas Lawson and Lake Reed accounted for six of the Rangers' 17 hits. Despite tallying eight base hits in the opener, Northwest used seven pitchers with starter Eli Deberry (4-4) taking the loss.

With the split, the Rangers enter the final week of the regular season with a 28-17 overall record and an 11-13 mark in the MACCC. Next up for Northwest is the home finale against Itawamba, scheduled for Wednesday, April 23 at 3/6 P.M. The Indians (23-19, 10-12 MACCC) are riding a three-game winning streak within the conference, including a most recent sweep of Hinds.

Wednesday's doubleheader will also serve as Sophomore Day for the 2025 Rangers' squad. The recognition of the sophomores is slated to take place prior to first pitch.

Fans unable to attend can follow along with the action on Ranger TV or through live stats. 


Game 1 - Meridian 19, Northwest 9 (7 inn.)

Although it was Northwest that took a brief 1-0 lead, a seven-run frame in the second inning helped lift Meridian to the dominating win in the opener.

Reed's RBI-single up the middle scored Levi Lang for the quick first inning advantage, but the Eagles quickly responded with four straight hits to open up the top of the second. Chris Fox and Walker Van Meter drove in Meridian's initial two runs, followed by an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt from Brayden Martin, which allowed two runs to score and gave the Eagles a 4-1 lead.

With two runners on base for Meridian, Brennon Wright smashed a homer to right field, further stretching the margin to 7-1. The Eagles would put runners on the corners, but Northwest finally got a strikeout of Fox to stop the bleeding.

After Jace Robinson entered in relief of Deberry, Meridian went down scoreless in the top of the third. That allowed the Rangers to capture some momentum in the home half of the inning, starting with a pair of walks to Mason Gillentine and Meyer Maddox.

Lang's groundout to the shortstop scored Gillentine and Lawson later smashed a three-run double to left center, pulling Northwest within a 7-5 deficit. Walker Maranto followed with an RBI-double of his own to right field, bringing in Lawson and closing the gap to 7-6.

Just when it seemed the Rangers had turned the tables, the Eagles responded back quickly in the fourth with a pair of runs. Meridian tacked on three more in the top of the fifth inning, with a solo home run from Hampton Ross and a two-run bomb from Harlin Hovater, pushing the deficit back to 12-6.

Hits kept coming for the Eagles in the top of the sixth, as Ethan Mallett's double down the left field line scored Conner Gehr and a wild pitch later sent Mallett across the plate. Ross then doubled to left field, further extended the Meridian lead to 15-6.

Despite multiple calls to the bullpen, Northwest was unable to stop the floodgates in the top of the seventh. With the bases loaded, Fox was hit by a pitch to bring in a run and Mallett was walked with the bases loaded. A sacrifice fly to center field and a double off the bat of Wright provided more runs for Meridian, as the Eagles led 19-6.

Though the Rangers did eventually score three runs in the seventh off a double from Lawson and a two-run homer from Maranto, the damage was already done as the game ended with a 19-9 final.

Deberry was handed the loss on the mound for Northwest, lasting just two innings and allowing six earned runs against two walks and a strikeout. Robinson struck out two in one inning of relief, followed by four runs allowed from Gavin McCoy in two complete frames.

Will Howell, Jackson Jenkins, Payton Sanders and Tatum Turner all combined for two innings of relief, with Howell and Sanders surrendering six earned runs combined. Howell and Jenkins also struck out one batter each, while Jenkins and Turner allowed no runs to score.

Lawson and Maranto both finished 3-for-4 at the plate and combined for seven RBIs. Lawson doubled twice and Maranto finished with a home run and a double.

For Meridian, Vaiden Ellis (3-2) picked up the win with an effective 2.2 scoreless innings of relief. Gehr, the Eagles' starter, lasted three full innings, allowing six runs and five walks against a pair of strikeouts.

Five Meridian players finished with two base hits apiece, highlighted by home runs from Hovater, Ross and Wright. Fox also finished with a triple and Mallett, Ross and Wright accounted for one double each.


Game 2 - Northwest 12, Meridian 2 (6 inn.)

Meridian took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning of the nightcap, but Northwest scored four in the bottom of the same inning and added four more in the bottom of the fourth en route to a 12-2 triumph.

A wild pitch helped the Eagles take the early lead, but Sullivan and the Rangers limited the damage in the top of the second. Northwest answered back with five base hits in the home half of the second inning, starting with a single from Reed and a two-run homer from Lawson. 

After Austin Batts and John Whit Snopek reached on back-to-back base hits, Gillentine sent a two-run double to left field, providing a 4-1 lead for the Rangers.

Although an error helped Meridian close the gap to 4-2 in the top of the fourth, Northwest again responded with another four-run effort in the bottom half of the inning. Snopek's double to left field got things going and Gillentine's triple to right center made it a 5-2 lead for the Rangers.

After a wild pitch allowed Gillentine to score, Lang sent a double into center field, scoring Maddox. Back-to-back passed balls allowed Lang to reach third and then score, pushing the Northwest lead to an 8-2 margin.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Rangers picked up where they left off, as Lawson led off the frame with a double down the left field line. Maranto followed with a two-run homer to left center, pushing Northwest to a 10-2 advantage.

Mason McMillin led off the sixth with a double to right field and Reed's RBI-single up the middle provided yet another run for the Rangers. Maranto then capped off the win with a double to center field, scoring Reed for the walk-off winner.

Sullivan's 5.2 innings of work resulted in the win for the freshman, as the Hernando native struck out one and walked two, allowing just one earned run. Thomas Mitchell was the Northwest starter, but was pulled after facing just one batter.

Lawson and Reed led the Rangers' efforts at the plate, as both players finished 3-for-4 with a combined three RBIs. Nine of the 17 base hits for Northwest were for extra bases, including six doubles.

Meridian used five pitchers in the loss, with Andrew Prejean (6-2) receiving the decision for the Eagles. Prejean struck out one and allowed six earned runs in 3.1 starting innings. MCC was held to five base hits, led by a 2-for-3 effort from Wright and doubles from Doby Bartling and Tyrus Williams. Read Full Article