Booneville, MS – Northeast wrapped up their 2026 regular season on the road in Summit, MS on Friday with both sides taking a game apiece in their doubleheader with the Bears taking a 9-1 win in five innings before falling to the Tigers who found their swing in game two for an 11-3 win in five innings to enter postseason play with a win. 

Defense for Southwest inn game one proved to be a problem for the Tigers in game one with Northeast being retired in order the first two innings while the Bears rounded the bases for a 6-0 lead. Tatum Berry connected on the first hit of the day for the Tigers with a bunt single and advanced to second off a throwing error for Southwest to put a runner in scoring position. Ava Elliott added another runner on base with a single to left field while Northeast loaded up the bases and thanks to an off the mark pitch that hit Bailey Houston, the Tigers were able to walk around the bases for their first run of the day. Their first run was the only run they scored in game one however with Southwest adding on three more in the bottom of the fifth to make it an eight-run lead for the Bears to enforce the run rule that handed Northeast a 9-1 loss. 

Key Stats from Game 1:

• Sophie Gant started game one in the circle through the first two innings where she struck out four batters. 
• The Tigers connected on only four hits with Berry, Elliott, Leah Walker, and Adin Shelton each recording one apiece. 

Northeast was able to get their bats going more often in game two with Shelton hammering out a double to drive in AB McKay before finding her own way home off a throwing error from Southwest for a 2-0 lead entering the third inning. Chloe Skelton continued her hot streak at the plate with a three-run bomb beyond the fences to further their lead while a double from McKay and another bunt single by Berry each drove in another run for five runs in the third inning to make the score 7-0 Tigers. 

Gant continued to add to the scoreboard with a hit to right center for an RBI-single to drive home Houston with McKay adding on with a hit up the middle to bring in Zanieya Booker. A fielder's choice resulted in Northeast rounding the bases and adding another run for a double-digit lead at 11-0 until three runs from the Bears cut the difference to eight with the Tigers' still leading 11-3. Emma Abrams entered the circle in the fifth inning to finish off Southwest with a run rule win and finished off the Bears in order with 11 of her 13 pitches resulting in strikes including a strikeout on the final batter to finish game two with an 11-3 win. 

Key Stats from Game 2:

• Berry earned her fourth win in the circle on the season with four innings pitched and one strikeout. Abrams entered for the final inning and recorded one strikeout to clinch the win. 
• McKay went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs, a double, and three RBI. Skelton went 2-for-3 with one run and a three-run homer for all three of her RBI. 
• Skelton, McKay, and Berry each recorded three RBI in game two accounting four nine of the Tigers' 11 runs. 

Northeast wraps up the 2026 regular season with a 38-14 overall record and finishes 15-13 in MACCC action heading into the postseason. The Tigers will be back in action on Thursday for the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament where they will take part in the Play-In Game with the opponent and time yet to be announced.