Wesson, Miss. — The No. 14 Northwest Mississippi Community College softball team opened the Region 23 Tournament with a 10-8 victory over No. 9 LSU-Eunice on Monday. The Rangers used a strong offensive performance and timely pitching to secure the win and move into the semifinals, with a chance to reach the championship game.
Northwest’s offense got off to a fast start, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Lillianna Cates hit a two-run homer, followed by a solo shot from Carleigh Calarco. Cates credited her team’s early rally for setting the tone, saying, “We really need to jump out ahead on them.”
However, LSU-Eunice responded quickly, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Control issues for Northwest pitcher Dearman contributed to the Bengals’ early lead, with three unearned runs crossing the plate. Both teams then played scoreless innings in the second and third, as the game settled into a pitching duel.
Northwest regained the lead in the fourth, tying the game at four on a sacrifice fly. The Rangers’ offense then exploded in the fifth, loading the bases before Sela Mancini cleared them with a grand slam. That gave Northwest a 10-4 advantage going into the bottom of the inning.
LSU-Eunice threatened in the fifth, loading the bases with no outs. Dearman kept the Bengals at bay, retiring the bottom of the order and maintaining a five-run lead. The Bengals scored three runs in the sixth to narrow the gap to 10-8 but couldn’t complete the comeback. Dearman closed out the game in the seventh, striking out the final batter to secure the win.
Northwest will face host team Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Monday’s 1 p.m. semifinal. The winner advances to the championship game Tuesday at 4 p.m., while the loser will play in an elimination game later Monday. The team set season bests with three home runs and effective defense, stranding multiple Bengals in scoring position.
For updates on the Rangers’ schedule and more, visit nwccrangers.com or follow Northwest on social media.
