SENATOBIA - History was made once again for the Northwest softball program on Saturday afternoon.
Hosting East Central for Sophomore Day and the home finale, the Rangers picked up a pair of 4-2 and 5-4 wins, notching the sweep against the Warriors.Â
Not only did Northwest close the regular season on an eight-game winning streak, but the Rangers also improved to 40-8 overall, marking the first 40-win campaign in program history. The program's previous record was set in 2022, when NWCC recorded 39 wins while winning the NJCAA Region 23 Championship and advanced to the program's first appearance in the NJCAA Division II Tournament.
For head coach
Chelsea Bramlett, this will be her fifth postseason appearance in as many years. The former Mississippi State standout and Team USA veteran took over ahead of the 2020 season, which was suspended due to COVID-19.
Northwest also finished the regular season with a 21-7 conference record, tying the program's previous-best of 21-3, set back in 2009. The Rangers also wrapped up the season with an 18-2 record at home.
Postseason details will be announced on nwccrangers.com within the next couple of days.
Game 1 - #13 Northwest 4, East Central 2
What started as a pitcher's duel between
Morgen Brewton and East Central's Macy Nordstrom ended with a two-run frame in the third and sixth innings, as Northwest captured the Game 1 victory.
Back-to-back base hits helped the Warriors take a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, but a leadoff triple from
Marleigh Mancini set the wheels in motion for the Rangers in the home half of the same inning.
Thenya Kennedy followed with an RBI-single on the next at-bat, and
Carly Dunigan's single up the middle gave Northwest the 2-1 advantage.
That score would remain intact until the bottom of the sixth inning, but East Central threatened to break things open in the top of the fifth. Back-to-back singles put runners on base for the Warriors and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases.
Abby Rogers then entered the circle in relief, promptly striking out two batters and forcing an inning-ending fielder's choice.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, an error allowed
Carleigh Calarco to reach base and
Addison Owen sent her first homer of the season over the wall in left field, pushing the lead to 4-1.
Although East Central's Kathryn Montz led off the seventh inning with an inside-the-park home run, the remaining Warriors were retired in order, allowing Rogers to earn her seventh save of the season.
Rogers, a native of Brandon, went three complete innings in the circle, striking out four batters against no walks and an earned run. Brewton (23-2) pitched the first four innings, finishing with a strikeout and no walks issued.
At the plate, Northwest finished with six base hits, including two apiece from Dunigan. East Central ended the game with seven base hits, led by a 3-for-3 effort from Montz.
Nordstrom went the distance in the circle for the Warriors, collecting two strikeouts with three earned runs allowed.
Game 2 - #13 Northwest 5, East Central 4
An inside-the-park homer off the bat of
Sommer Tyes set the tone for Northwest in Saturday's nightcap.
Tyes' team-leading 16th home run was one of two runs scored for the Rangers across the first two innings. Mancini provided the other score in the bottom of the second, as her groundout to the shortstop allowed
Emma Jennings to score from third.
East Central answered back in the third inning, when Kayleigh Karel singled up the middle and scored Kylee Raye DeWitt. The Warriors tied the game in the top of the fifth, as Montz doubled to right center, allowing DeWitt to cross the plate once more.
However, Northwest answered back in the home half of the fifth inning, as
Lulu Franks sent a two-run double through the left side, pushing the score back to 4-2 in favor of the Rangers. A two-run homer allowed East Central to tie the game again in the sixth, but a two-out error proved to be costly for the Warriors, as
Ellie Fryar singled to left field and sent Mancini around the plate for the go-ahead run.
With Rogers back in the circle for relief, Northwest shut down East Central in order, with the sophomore delivering a strikeout in her final pitch thrown on the home field. She also picked up her second save of the day, running her season total to eight saves.
Brewton improved to 24-2 in the circle, striking out six batters in six full innings. The Rangers also finished with nine base hits, led by Jennings' 2-for-3 effort.
East Central scattered five base hits throughout its lineup, highlighted by the home run from Maleigh Lemings. Neely Wolverton started in the circle for the Warriors, allowing four runs, but it was Lynleigh Burt (4-4) that was handed the loss in relief, due to giving up the go-ahead run in the sixth.
