SENATOBIA – The Northwest Mississippi Community College softball team (14-9, 6-2) picked up their second conference sweep of the season in dramatic fashion on Saturday afternoon at the Ranger softball complex, taking down the Meridian Community College Eagles (18-17, 4-6) with a pair of walk offs to cap a 3-1 week against ranked opponents at home.
The opening game saw Northwest rally back from down 3-0 and again at 5-3 to eventually win 8-5 before taking that momentum into game two with a 12-4 run-rule win in the second game with a walk off in the fifth capping the rally.
GAME 1 – NWCC 8 Meridian 5
The Rangers got off to an unfortunate beginning in their opener with Meredith Dearman getting touched up for three runs in the top of the first inning after a pair of singles and a hit batter set up a two-out rally that was keyed by an error and capped with an RBI single as nine Eagles made it to the plate in the opening frame.
Northwest was able to immediately answer back in the bottom of the inning after Ava Claire Rhoden doubled on the first pitch she saw from Hannah Capelo, followed by a single and a walk to load the bases.
Handley McAtee would drive a sacrifice fly to right field and two more singles from Carleigh Calarco and Sela Mancini would tie the game at three.
Misfortune would strike again in the top of the second when another leadoff single set the stage for a two-run homerun to give Meridian the lead right back at 5-3.
The score stayed frozen at the two-run deficit for the Rangers to look up at until the bottom of the fifth inning saw NWCC break the deadlock. After a leadoff double was cut down trying to score, Northwest picked up a two-out hit from Londen Armstrong to deadlock the game at five, scoring Calarco and Mancini to reset the game going into the final two innings.
"That was very big for a confidence boost and allowed us to know that we can get the job done," Mancini said of the timing of the double by Armstrong.
Dearman pitched a 1-2-3 top of the sixth and only gave up a two-out single in the top of the seventh, and after the Rangers went quietly in the sixth, it set up the heart of the order for the seventh. After a leadoff single, Meridian made a pitching change and Chelsea Reagan would take the hill.
Dearman threw five straight zeros after the opening innings and Mancini said that type of gritty effort didn't go unnoticed by her teammates.
"I was very thankful for her performance today. I knew that I wanted to get out and walk it off for her because of how well she had pitched, and I was just super proud of her and the rest of my teammates."
Northwest added another runner on base to put the winning run in scoring position, and after a line drive was just snared in center field to rob Calarco of the glory of a walkoff, Mancini took advantage and drove a pitch to straight away center field for a three-run homerun and her second walk off in her last four games after doing the same to #3 Jones College just eight days prior.
"It feels great," Mancini said. "I feel like since the last walkoff I've gained a lot of confidence, and I've been able to get up there and know I can do it and that the hard work I have put in throughout the season has paid off."
The home run was also her first of the season and helped the Rangers and Dearman to what would be the freshman's tenth win of the season.
GAME 2 – NWCC 12 Meridian 4
Northwest opened the scoring with a massive salvo in the bottom of the first inning, keeping the bats hot after the close of the opening game while sending thirteen batters to the plate and chasing the Eagles starting pitcher away after giving up six runs.
The rally was sparked by early patience from NWCC, drawing a pair of leadoff walks on just nine pitches before four of the next five batters would pick up base hits, with the big blow a double by Mancini and a two RBI single from Armstrong.
Meridian made the move from Willa Simmons to Isabella White, and another two runs would score before she could put a torniquet on the bleeding thanks to a Rhoden single that scored two before she would come home on a single by Cates to round out the scoring.
"We prepped all week like we always do and they just came out swinging. I was really proud of them," Bramlett said. "Our bats woke up and man, the top of my lineup right now is just incredible."
In the circle, Catelyn Brown would retire six in a row after a leadoff single in the first inning and didn't find any trouble until the top of the third when a walk and three singles resulted in a pair of runs for Meridian to make it 8-2.
Another two would score in the top of the fifth inning after the first three batters reached base on a single, a walk, and a two-run double. Brown shut down the next three with fly ball outs, but the chance of a run rule had been cut in half with the lead down to 8-4.
That was just the challenge the Rangers were looking for.
Rhoden did what she did best and led off the inning by getting on base, and that sparked the rally. Mary Madison Kelley followed her with a run scoring double, and after a fly ball to center field was just lassoed by the Eagles to deny Cates of an RBI, McAtee, and Calarco would both pick up hits to set up the second walk-off opportunity for Mancini with the score pushing to 11-8.
The right fielder wouldn't miss a beat, working her way to a 2-1 count before driving a ball to right center field which would bring home the winning run and help Brown to the five-inning complete game for her third win of the season.
"I thought she had (hit a home run) again," Bramlett said. "That kid has found her confidence, and she has found her groove. She is absolutely killing the ball."
Up Next –
The Rangers will face off against East Mississippi Community College (9-17, 1-9) on the road to start a stretch of four straight away from home next week. Games are set to begin at 2 and 4 P.M. with streaming information available on www.nwccrangers.com.
Keep up with Northwest softball by following along on Ranger social media accounts.
