Vallians Help NWCC Rangers Stay In Play
The Northwest Mississippi Community College Rangers used two strong pitching performances to sweep a doubleheader from the Coahoma Tigers March 24 in Clarksdale.
Northwest won the first contest 14-2, then claimed the nightcap 8-2 to improve to 12-8 overall and remain in second place in the MACJC north division with a record of 7-1.
Ranger sophomore pitcher Jeffrey Vance of Water Valley threw his second complete game of the season to help Northwest win the first game. Vance allowed just four hits and struck out seven in six innings to move his record to 3-1.
Northwest built a 9-2 lead after five innings thanks to a two-run double by Alan Mathis of Memphis and RBI-singles by Justin Stevens of Southaven and Matt James of Nesbit.
The Rangers put the game away by adding five more runs in the sixth frame. Northwest collected 11 hits in the contest and were helped out by eight Coahoma errors.
Freshman pitcher Jon-Michael Davis of Memphis enjoyed his best outing of the spring in the second game by striking out six en route to earning the complete game victory. Davis, who improved to 2-1, allowed seven hits and one earned run.
James and freshman Ronnie Ferrell of Water Valley collected six of the Rangers’ 11 hits by picking up three each.
James, who racked up five RBIs in the contest, had a three-run double in the sixth inning and added two RBI-singles.
Ferrell hit a double to go along with a solo homer, his second of the season, in the fifth frame. Ferrell’s home run broke a 1-1 tie and sparked Northwest’s offense.
Northwest also used RBI-singles from Seth Milliorn of Olive Branch and Kevin Crum of Nesbit as part of a five-run sixth inning.
