ALVA, Okla. – It was an emotional day at the Alva Recreation Complex, home of Northwestern Oklahoma State Lady Ranger Softball, as Ranger Nation gave their four seniors a proper sendoff. Before the games,
Alexis Hayes,
Morgan Lewis,
Amber Mills and
Megan Sanders were honored for their dedicated service to the Softball program, accompanied by family and friends from all over the country. The Rangers picked up a much needed victory in game one, handing Ouachita Baptist a 5-2 loss before falling 15-4 in the series finale.
Game 1
Madison Garza picked up her ninth win as the Rangers continued to solidify their place in the Great American Conference tournament held May 4-6 in Bentonville, Arkansas. Garza (9-12, 4.18 ERA, 120.2 IP) was spectacular once again as the right handed slinger continually crushed Ouachita Baptist's would-be rallies, holding the Tigers to just one earned run on their seven hits.
Northwestern's four graduating seniors were the story of the day and they did not disappoint in their farewell.
Megan Sanders drove in the game's first run when she smacked a base hit up the middle to score
Audrey Estes in the 2
nd. Sanders (2-for-3, RBI) ended an 0-for-11 slide in a big way on senior day as the four-year Ranger raised her season average to .257 by driving in her 18
th run.
The Tigers would get their only runs in the 3
rd when a two-out error on the infield scored a pair of unearned runs off of Garza. That gave OUA starter Kelsey O'Brien (7-14) a lead that she was able to hang on to until the Rangers tied it up in the 5
th thanks to a
Macy Madewell RBI single.
A three run 6
th knocked O'Brien from the game after
Amber Mills smoked a ball over the center fielder's head to score
Peyton Garrett and senior
Alexis Hayes (2-for-3, run).
Madi Parrott added an insurance run with a seeing-eye double that flirted with the left field line, allowing Mills to score from second.
Despite going 0-for-2 at the dish, senior
Morgan Lewis put together two quality at bats in her first start of the year. The 5'8 outfielder from Elmore City, Okla. almost took O'Brien deep when she took the first pitch she saw all the way to the wall for a deep lineout in the 2
nd.
The Rangers took game one 5-2 to guarantee a series win over Ouachita Baptist.
Game 2
Looking to roll over the Tigers for a series sweep, the Rangers sent
Karly Murray out for the series finale. Northwestern was downed 15-4 after the Tigers managed eight runs in the top of the 6
th, putting what was a close contest out of reach for the Rangers.
Amber Mills made her last game at the Alva Rec Complex one to remember as the senior went 4-for-4 including a 1
st inning home run that bounced off the top of the fence and out for her fourth deep fly of the season. The Texas native raised her average 17 points this weekend to .237 and her three RBI's in game two brought her season total to 21 (mostly out of the leadoff spot). Designated hitter
Jordan Sutton also hit her second home run in as many days when the junior gave their Rangers their second straight inning with a leadoff homerun.
But what was once a close game got away from Northwestern late. The Tiger offense broke out for 16 hits between Murray and reliever
Jalena Arthur, including a 6
th inning that saw the visitors put up eight runs on seven hits that effectively thwarted any chance of a Ranger sweep. Ouachita designated hitter Macy Nantz was the Tiger's best bat as she went 4-for-5, driving in two runs and hitting a home run.
Northwestern would drop the run-rule shortened contest 15-4 to wrap up their 2017 home campaign.
Up Next
The Rangers will hit the road for the rest of the regular season, beginning with the second half of their GAC Rivalry series with Southwestern Oklahoma State (15-26, 9-22 GAC). The Bulldogs will host Northwestern on Tuesday, April 18 in Weatherford, Okla. for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. The two teams split a twin-bill when Northwestern hosted on April 5.
For the latest news and updates on Ranger Softball, follow @NWOSUAthletics on Twitter or visit www.riderangersride.com
