The Northwest Mississippi Community College baseball team wrapped up its regular season with a split against Jones College in a series affected by weather and extra-inning games. The series took place in Ellisville and Jackson, Mississippi, after rain forced the second game to be moved. The Rangers lost the first game 3-2 in 11 innings but won the second game 6-3 in nine innings, according to school officials.
In the opening game, both teams showcased strong pitching performances, but Jones scored the winning run on an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th. Northwest’s Derrin Randle pitched 7.2 innings, allowing only one run and striking out seven. The game was tied at 2-2 through nine innings before Jones secured the victory with a walk-off single, eliminating the Rangers from hosting a regional tournament site, officials said.
The second game featured a pitchers’ duel before Northwest took control in the late innings. Caleb Doty held Jones hitless through the first three innings but surrendered a homer in the fourth. The Rangers responded with a big inning in the fifth, loading the bases and scoring three runs. Jones answered with two runs in the bottom half, but Northwest regained the lead in the ninth with a clutch single from Lake Reed, sealing the game.
The series ended with both teams tied in the MACCC standings at 18-10. Seeding for the upcoming Region 23 Tournament depends on tiebreakers, as Northwest had split with both Jones and Copiah-Lincoln Community College during the regular season. The tournament will be hosted at different sites depending on seeding, with top seeds playing in Poplarville or Meridian, officials said.
Northwest officials noted that the team’s postseason placement remains uncertain as the tiebreaker process unfolds. The team’s next steps will be announced via the school’s athletics website and social media channels.
