NWCC Rangers split with Northeast

Northeast claimed the nightcap 2-1 to move Northwest’s record to 21-16-1 overall and 12-6 in the MACJC north division. The Rangers and Tigers remain tied for second place in the north.

Mathis, of Memphis, hit his third home run of the spring with a three-run blast in the third inning to help Northwest build a 5-0 lead.

Mathis also collected an RBI in the first frame by drawing a bases-loaded walk that scored Kory Petri of Oxford. Ranger Seth Milliorn of Olive Branch added an RBI-groundout in the second inning to score Ronnie Ferrell of Water Valley.

The Tigers cut their deficit to 5-3 in the bottom half of the third, but Northwest’s Walker hit a solo homer in the top of the fourth to push the Ranger lead to 6-3. Walker, of Covington, Tenn., leads Northwest with seven homers this season.

Northeast touched Ranger starting pitcher Jeffrey Vance of Water Valley for two more runs to cut the margin to 6-5. Wes Grilliette of Oxford replaced Vance in the fifth inning and slammed the door on the Tigers’ offense.

Grilliette retired seven of the eight batters he faced to earn his first save of the spring. Vance picked up the win to improve his record to 6-2.

Northwest had trouble getting its offense going in the second contest and collected just four hits.

The Rangers trailed 1-0 in the sixth frame before Petri hit his fifth homer of the season with a solo blast to tie the game.

Northeast scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning with a two-out single.

Northwest starting pitcher Matt Shaw of Oxford was shouldered with the loss to drop his record to 3-2. Shaw struck out six and surrendered just four hits.