SENATOBIA - On Sophomore Day, the #24 Northwest Mississippi Community College baseball team (30-17) lost a pair of games to #1 Pearl River Community College (43-9) at Jim Miles Field, placing them in a tie for fourth in the MACCC standings heading into the last series of the regular season. 

Game 1 - #24 NWCC 11 #1 Pearl River 21 

Although 32 runs were scored between the two teams, Northwest did not find themselves on the right side of the offensive explosion in the first game of the doubleheader. 

After allowing two runs to score in the top of the first inning, one run being from a defensive miscue, the Rangers responded by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first.  

Preston Johnson doubled to center field and was immediately able to score following a single from Walker Sanders. Mason McMillin recorded the Rangers' third straight hit with a single through the left side.  

The offensive production did not stop there. After Barrett McKenney walked, the bases were loaded for John Whit Snopek. Although Snopek did not record a hit, he reached on a fielding error, allowing two more runs to score for Northwest.  

The Wildcat defense struggled to settle in, and their defensive uneasiness was once again prevalent in the bottom of the second inning. After a Lake Reed single and a passed ball, PRCC was prompted into a pitching change. The new pitcher loaded the bases after walking two batters in a row. McMillin, then, recorded his first RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly to center field. 

Three walks and two hits allowed Pearl River to take the lead in the top of the third inning. However, like in the first inning, Northwest was able to respond. South McCoy led off the inning with a walk and was able to reach third after a stolen base and a wild pitch. Snopek then hit a dazzling two-run home run to restore NWCC's lead. 

The Wildcats retook the lead in the top of the fourth and never relinquished it for the rest of the game, showing why they are the #1 team in the country. 

Allowing four runs in the sixth inning, six runs in the seventh, and five runs in the ninth, the Rangers' pitching staff struggled in the latter portion of the game.  

After PRCC had built a ten run lead, NWCC attempted to mount a comeback and score five runs in the bottom of the seventh to force the game to go the full nine innings.  

Corey Watkins opened the seventh inning with a single and the two batters after him walked, resulting in the bases being loaded for Johnson who hit a sacrifice fly to score a run. Sanders smashed a double to the left side, pushing two more Rangers across the plate. The other two runs came as a result of a single from McKenney and a sacrifice fly from McCoy.  

Tyce Powers got the start on the mound for Northwest and went five innings while allowing eight runs on seven hits and striking out five. After he was pulled, Northwest saw five other pitchers combine to finish the game.  

Tyler Sullivan, Will Howell, Tatum Turner, Gideon Deaton, and Watkins all saw game action with all but Watkins giving up at least two runs. 

Game 2 - NWCC 4 PRCC 7 

The second game of the evening was a much closer affair.  

Northwest took the lead in the second inning after a McCoy solo home run on the first pitch of the inning. The Rangers then extended their lead by two more runs with a single from Hallas Lawson after Wildcat pitching and defensive struggles led to the bases being loaded.  

PRCC immediately responded with a two run home run in the top of the third inning.  

Although neither team scored in the fourth inning, Pearl River was able to bring across a run in both the fifth and sixth inning to give PRCC the 4-3 lead.  

In the bottom of the sixth, the Rangers once again attempted to mount a comeback. After an RBI double from Sanders and a scoreless seventh inning, Northwest forced the game to go into extra innings. 

Like in the first game, the Wildcats displayed why they were ranked at the top of the polls when they took the opportunities presented to them and scored three runs via errors in the top of the eighth inning.  

On the pitching side of things, Connor Young was given the nod for his second start of the season and went 5.1 innings while allowing four runs on six hits and striking out five.  

McCoy came in to close things out but was ultimately credited with the loss. McCoy went 2.2 innings and allowed three runs, although only one of the runs was earned, on three hits and three strikeouts.  

UP NEXT  

On Wednesday at 12 p.m., the Rangers will travel to Ellisville to take on #11 Jones College (34-15) in MACCC play at Community Bank Park in a doubleheader. Game two is scheduled for 3 p.m., or for 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. 

To stay up to date on the NWCC baseball team, follow the Ranger social media accounts or go to nwccrangers.com.