NORTHEAST RISES TO #20 IN NJCAA RANKINGS

Booneville, MS – After eclipsing the 30-win mark on the 2026 season with a sweep over Mississippi Delta and splitting with #17 Hinds, the Tigers rose to #20 in the latest NJCAA national rankings. 

Northeast kicked off their weekly schedule on the road with a doubleheader against Mississippi Delta where elite pitching led the Tigers to a sweep over the Trojans. Sophie Gant struck out seven batters in game one while allowing on three hits in seven innings while Leah Walker and reigning NJCAA Player of the Week Kendall Bragg each hit a homer to lead Northeast to an 8-2 win in game one. Emma Abrams in game two struck out another seven batters at the plate while allowing zero hits in five innings while 13 combined hits led by a dinger from Ava Elliott completed the series sweep with a 10-3 win. 

Friday was a matchup between two nationally ranked teams in the NJCAA with #21 Northeast taking on #17 Hinds in what was a split on the day. Hinds took game one 2-0 in a pitching battle between the two MACCC foes. Game two belonged to the Tigers with Abrams stepping up once more and striking out six batters and allowed only two hits in an eventual 13-1 run rule win. 

For the first time in several weeks there was a shakeup at the top of the NJCAA rankings with Pearl River falling two spots to #3 along with Copiah Lincoln falling to #5. #6 Jones and #9 Louisiana State Eunice remained in the top ten from Region 23 while #14 Itawamba, #17 Northwest, #19 Hinds, and #24 Southwest also remained in this week's polls. 

#20 Northeast improved to 31-9 overall on the season and sits even at 8-8 in MACCC action. They will return to action tomorrow against #17 Northwest in another top twenty matchup in the NJCAA before hitting the road to take on Mississippi Gulf Coast on Saturday.