Photo: Kylee Brown issued 10 strikeouts and improved to 2-0 in the circle during the Rangers’ Game 2 victory against Meridian. (Photo credit: Michael Miller)
Credit: Northwest CC Sports Information
Two solid outings in the circle from Gabby Dickerson and Kylee Brown helped Northwest to a home sweep of Meridian on Friday, as the Rangers took a pair of 3-0 and 3-1 victories.
Dickerson went the distance with six strikeouts and no walks allowed, improving to 13-0 in the circle, while Brown (2-0) delivered 10 strikeouts against three walks and an unearned run.
At the plate, Northwest combined for 13 base hits, highlighted by two home runs from McKaylee “K.K.” Polk. The sophomore finished with her 18th and 19th homers of the season, shattering her own single-season record from last season.
Northwest improved to 27-3 overall and 16-2 in the conference, while Meridian dropped to 11-28 on the season and 6-14 in the MACCC. The Rangers will close out the regular season home slate this week, hosting East Mississippi on Tuesday, April 18 and Mississippi Gulf Coast on Saturday, April 22, which will also serve as Sophomore Day.
Game 1 – #2 Northwest 3, Meridian 0
Meridian was limited to just two base hits against the strong pitching efforts from Dickerson, as Northwest earned a 3-0 victory in the opener.
Northwest got two runs in the bottom of the third, as Reese Vanlandingham delivered a single to second base. An error on the same play allowed Vanlandingham to advance to second, while Chloe Summerford came around to score the game’s first run.
On the next at-bat, Vanlandingham would score on Kaylee Owens’ single through the right side, extending the Rangers’ lead to 2-0.
Both teams were retired in order during the next two innings, before Polk crushed a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to move the score to 3-0. Dickerson then sent the Eagles down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, preserving the shutout.
Polk went 2-for-3 to lead the Rangers at the plate, also providing Northwest with its only extra base hit. Lauren Brooks fell to 6-10 in the circle for Meridian, despite striking out seven batters.
Game 2 – #2 Northwest 3, Meridian 1
Northwest scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Brown kept the Eagles in check during the Game 2 win.
Meridian pitcher Sara Gaylord kept the Rangers off the board over the first three innings, only to give up a solo homer from Polk. After a walk to Kara Johnson and a bunt single from Madeline Houk, Randi Johnson delivered a single up the middle to make it a 2-0 advantage.
Crista Wilson’s bunt single allowed the third and final run to score for Northwest, as Houk came around to score from third.
An error in the sixth inning allowed Meridian to plate its only run, but Brown controlled the Eagles’ offense throughout the majority of the contest. Meridian got a two-out single in the top of the seventh, but Brown struck out the final batter to clinch the sweep.
Northwest scattered six hits throughout the lineup, while Tabitha Mayfield accounted for two of Meridian’s three base hits.
