SEARCY, Ark. – With the Great American Conference tournament seeding coming down to the final weekend of play, the Northwestern Oklahoma State Softball team was faced with the daunting task of heading to Searcy to face #2 Harding University. Entering play battling Ouachita Baptist for the 8
th and final tournament spot, the Rangers were looking to steal one from the GAC's best team. Northwestern dropped game one 7-2 before falling 3-0 in game two.
Game 1
The Rangers ran into a potent offense at the wrong time Harding put up seven runs on 11 hits to take game one of this weekend's four game set. The Bisons grabbed the lead in the 2
nd after a bases clearing double by Peyton Mills that proved to be the difference maker.
Madison Garza did all she could to contain the nation's second ranked squad, but the junior right hander was tagged for six earned runs over her five innings of work.
Northwestern broke would get its only runs in the 4
th when a
Macy Madewell two-bagger in the gap scored
Brittany Corrales before
Jordan Sutton picked up an RBI by cashing in Madison Parrott.
With such a tight race to nab the last Great American Conference tournament spot, the Rangers were looking for a couple of Ouachita Baptist losses in their games against Oklahoma Baptist Friday. A doubleheader split in that series means that the final spot will have to wait until the last day of the regular season on Saturday.
Harding went on to win the first game 7-2.
Game 2
Head coach
Jill Webb was looking to sophomore
Karly Murray to shut down the Bisons in the second game of Friday's doubleheader. The Hinton, Okla. native kept Harding to just six hits, well below their .324 season average.
With Murray working to keep Harding off the board, it was up to the Ranger hitters to give her some run support in what was sure to be a tightly contested matchup. But Northwestern only managed two hits against HU starter Autumn Humes, who has been dominant all season long posting a 26-1 record while maintaining a lights-out 1.28 ERA on the year.
The Rangers best chance came in the 6
th when a lead-off walk by
Katie Bell was followed by another from Corrales, but both would be left stranded as Humes got herself out of the jam.
The Bisons manufactured a pair of runs in the 2
nd and 3
rd innings before getting another by way of a solo shot by Kimmy Hendricks. That was all Humes needed, going seven innings of shutout softball while giving up just two hits and three free passes.
Up Next
The Rangers and Bisons will wrap up their four game series tomorrow (Saturday, April 29) in Searcy, Arkansas in what will be the regular season finale for both clubs. Weather permitting, games will be played at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. at the Harding University Softball Complex.
For the latest news and updates on Ranger Softball, follow @NWOSUAthletics on Twitter or visit www.riderangersride.com
