ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers rode two strong pitching performances from Madison Garza and Karly Murray to a sweep over the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms on Friday. Northwestern won the first game in tight 2-0 fashion, but exploded for nine runs in the first inning to take a one-sided 11-0 victory in game two.

Game 1
With the weather finally on their side, the Rangers took the field against a quality opponent in Arkansas-Monticello in the first of a four-game Great American Conference series. Looking to build off their strong performance against East Central just a week ago, the Rangers were relying on junior Madison Garza to lead the charge.

And she delivered an outing for the ages.

The 5'4" Edna, Texas product came through with a near perfect outing that was good enough for the first no-hitter of her NCAA career, and just the eighth 7-inning no-no in GAC history.

Northwestern found some early offense thanks to a Madison McGraw two-run home run to left, cashing in Brittany Corrales to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

Armed with all the run support she needed, Garza took to the circle with a lights-out mindset.

After surrendering a leadoff walk to McKenzie Rice in the 1^st inning, Garza sat down the next 17 Blossoms batters. The only other blemish came in the 6^th when Garza made an error with two outs, but the right hander was unfazed and was able to get the final four outs.

The Rangers threatened again in the 4^th and 6^th innings, but UAM starter Kendra Coleman threw a solid game of her own allowing just two earned runs on seven hits and no walks. NWOSU catcher Audrey Estes gave Coleman some trouble, going 2-for-3 in the first game.

With Garza cruising through her 12^th start of the season, she seemed calm as ever in the 7^th inning with the opportunity to close out a remarkable feat standing right in front of her.
The Ranger dugout erupted when Garza got Maranda Clendenin to fly out to left, with McGraw making the catch to secure Northwestern's first solo no-hitter in the NCAA era.

Game 2
After securing two wins against ECU, head Coach Jill Webb felt confident sending sophomore Karly Murray to the rubber to keep the momentum in their favor.

She picked up right where Garza left off, retiring the Blossoms in order in the top of the 1^st, setting the stage for what would become the Ranger offense's most explosive inning this season.

UAM pitcher Maylie Bain made her second start of the year, and the Rangers took advantage of the junior transfer from Harding early and often.

After Corrales led off the game with one of her four hits on the afternoon, it looked like Webb's Rangers would continue to display their small ball skills as Amber Mills sac-bunted Corrales over to second.

But five straight hits for the Northwestern batters ruined Bain's day after recording just one out. The junior allowed five earned runs and six hits before giving way to Mallory McWhorter who didn't fare much better.

The Rangers managed five more hits off of McWhorter as she was lifted in favor of Paisley Pratt, who got the Blossoms through the next three and two-thirds innings.

However, the damage was already done as the black-and-red scored nine runs in the frame, in part thanks to a multi-hit inning from both Corrales and Madi Parrott, who each singled twice.
UAM tried to answer in the next half, but Murray pitched her way out of a jam, stranding runners at second and third.

Northwestern followed up their big inning with another crooked number, as a Corrales single drove in two more runs for the Rangers in the bottom of the 2^nd.

With the safety of an 11 run lead, Murray breezed through the remainder of the game earning her fourth victory of the 2017 season. The pitcher from Hinton, Okla. tossed five innings of shutout softball, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out six Cotton Blossom batters.

Nearly every Ranger starter recorded a hit in game two, with three multi-hit performances from Corrales (3-for-3), Parrott (2-for-2, BB) and Macy Madewell (2-for-2, HBP).
Northwestern would take an 11-0 victory over Arkansas-Monticello.

Up Next
The Rangers will return to the Alva Rec Complex tomorrow (Saturday, March 18) to wrap up the series with UAM with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.

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