The Northwest Mississippi Community College softball team fell to Gadsden State 5-4 in 10 innings Thursday at the Ranger Softball Field. The game was part of a non-conference schedule and served as preparation for upcoming conference play.
Northwest, which had lost twice to Gadsden State earlier in the week, took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on back-to-back doubles by Mary Madison Kelley and Lillianna Cates. Gadsden State responded in the second inning with a run on a passed ball after a triple. Handley McAtee answered for the Rangers with a solo homer to center field, giving Northwest a 2-1 lead.
The Cardinals tied the game in the fourth on a two-out single. Northwest regained the lead in the fifth when Ava Clair Rhoden scored on a Cates single after reaching on an error and advancing on a passed ball. Gadsden State tied it again in the sixth, scoring on an error by McAtee after a leadoff double.
After scoreless innings, the game went to the ninth tied at two. The Cardinals took the lead with a two-out RBI single. In the bottom of the ninth, Kelley’s fielder’s choice brought home Aubrey Massing to knot the game at three. Cates drew a walk to load the bases, but Carleigh Calarco struck out, preventing a walk-off win for Northwest.
The Cardinals scored the game-winning run in the 10th on a leadoff homer. Northwest went down in order in the bottom of the inning, ending the game with a 9-8 record for the season. The team used four pitchers, with Kate Johnson allowing two runs in 4 1/3 innings. Catelyn Brown pitched two innings of one-run ball, and Meredith Dearman threw three innings, striking out three.
The loss was credited to Sydney Henderson, who allowed one run in 0.2 innings. Northwest will open MACCC play Friday against No. 3 Jones College at 1 p.m. at the Ranger Softball Field. The game will be streamed online at nwccrangers.com/watch.
