The Northwest Mississippi Community College baseball team split a doubleheader Wednesday, defeating Itawamba Community College 14-12 in a dramatic game before falling to Northeast Mississippi 8-7 in extra innings, according to school officials.
In the first game, Northwest fell behind early after three errors and a three-run homer by Itawamba in the first inning. Despite the deficit, head coach Mark Carson said his team maintained confidence. “I don’t think we ever got down,” said Mason McMillan, who later delivered a walk-off grand slam in the seventh inning.
Northwest responded with multiple runs in the subsequent innings, including a two-run homer from McMillan in the third. The game remained tight, with Itawamba adding a run in the sixth and the Rangers answering back, setting the stage for McMillan’s heroics. With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, McMillan launched a walk-off shot over the left field fence, sealing a 14-12 win.
McMillan said he “blacked out” during the moment and praised his teammates’ resilience. “Anyone in our lineup can do that. I just got lucky,” he said. Coach Carson highlighted the importance of working through the lineup’s strength, noting, “When I saw McMillan and South in the lineup, those are our two strongest kids, and they came through.”
Pitcher Mac Atkins earned the win after pitching 1.2 innings, while John Griffin Lane tossed three innings of relief. Several other pitchers contributed as well.
The second game saw Northwest start strong, with a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Darren Randle pitched well despite command issues, allowing only one run over 4.1 innings. Northwest took a 6-4 lead before Northeast rallied to tie it in the seventh. The Tigers scored two runs in the eighth, including a triple, to secure the victory in extras.
Northwest will compete in the Perfect Game Invitational in Millington this weekend, facing Jefferson College, South Arkansas Community College, and Northwest-Shoals Community College. The schedule is available online at nwccrangers.com, and updates can be followed on the school’s social media channels.
