SENATOBIA – A good start for the Rangers turned into a sweep on Wednesday over the East Mississippi Community College Lions (11-22, 5-5) as Northwest Mississippi Community College (19-10, 6-2) moved up to a tie with #4 Jones College for the second spot in the MACCC standings, winning game one with a 16-6 run rule victory before rallying from down 4-3 to take the second game 6-4.
The Rangers extended their winning streak to four games in the process, matching their longest winning streak of the season to this point.
GAME 1 – NWCC 16 East Mississippi 6
The early salvos in the Rangers first game came from the Lions with East Mississippi picking up the lead with single runs in the top of the first inning and the second as Derrin Randle took to the hill for the Rangers.
Northwest's offense picked up their starter in the bottom of the second inning when they grabbed the lead with a five run inning which sparked six straight offensive frames that the Rangers would score in, picking up four more in the third, three in the fourth and combining for four more in the fifth, sixth, and seventh, including a walk off wild pitch that would end the game early with the 10-run rule in effect.
East did pick up runs to answer in the top of the third, closing the gap to 5-4 at that point, and their two runs in the top of the seventh nearly extended the game to the eighth inning when they cut it to 15-6, but the 15 hits for the Rangers and seven walks were more than enough to answer back.
The offensive parade was led by a trio of Rangers who had three RBIs in the game. South McCoy picked up a home run and a triple on a 2-4 day while scoring three times and was joined with three RBIs by John Whit Snopek who went 3-4 on the day, and Lake Reed who had his best game as a Ranger, going 3-3 and scoring three times as well. All but one Ranger reached base in the game that made a plate appearance.
The win went to Tyler Sullivan in relief for his second of the season, coming in after Randle was pulled after the third inning after giving up four runs and five hits while striking out three.
Sullivan worked a strong four innings for NWCC, only allowing two runs despite giving up eight hits and a pair of walks, striking out four in the game.
GAME 2 – NWCC 6 East Mississippi 4
The Lions got off to the quicker start for the second straight game against the Rangers, going up on Caleb Doty with four runs in the top of the second inning as they ambushed the Rangers with four singles combining with some aggressive base running to jump out in front, but that was the last time the Lions would be heard from on the offensive side of the plate.
NWCC didn't have the big answer back in the game but did work their way forward with two runs in the third, a solo home run from McCoy in the fourth, and a two-run home run by Mason McMillin in the fifth to give them the 5-4 lead and put Doty in line for the win.
An insurance run would be added in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single from Reed to score Josh Pena, who was pinch running for Evan Lightsey after he had doubled with two outs to start the rally.
With the lead intact, the Rangers would look to McCoy for the save and he worked a scoreless top of the seventh, picking up his fourth save of the season on the way. Doty earned the win for the Rangers, improving to 3-1 on the year by going five innings, giving up four runs on eight hits while striking out two and not walking any batters. Preston Johnson picked up an inning in relief work as well.
UP NEXT –
Northwest continues their conference season with a matchup against #18 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (19-12. 4-6) this weekend at Jim Miles Field on Saturday afternoon. Game times are set for 2 and 5 P.M. with free admission to the public.
You can find streaming information and more online at www.nwccrangers.com and you can keep up with all news and updates on Ranger baseball by following along on Northwest social media accounts.
