ADA, Okla. - In their second conference road series of the season, the Northwestern Oklahoma State took home its first series victory 3-1 over East Central after splitting the afternoon with the Tigers.
GAME 1
There wasn't a whole lot of offense in game one of the day for either team, as both squads tallied a total of seven hits.
Madison Garza started in the circle and threw a solid game, giving up just three hits and three runs, but unfortunately came away with the loss due to one swing of the bat.
The four hits for the visitors were all by separate people, as
Estrella Guardiola earned herself a triple, while
Madison McGraw collected a double. The other two hits were singles off the bats of
Brittany Corrales and
Morgan Kirk.
It was a quiet pitcher's duel until the Rangers were able to strike first, but it didn't happen until the fifth inning when
Peyton Garrett reached on an error by the third baseman, scoring
Estrella Guardiola on the play.
Following a scoreless inning and a half, the Tigers hit a three-run bomb in the bottom of the sixth which would prove to be enough to take game one of the day, 3-1.
GAME 2
The offense that struggled in game one came alive in the second as the Rangers put together eight hits, two of which were Kirk's. Six of her teammates also joined in on the hitting display to have a balanced attack at the plate.
Karly Murray had another fantastic outing, going 3-0 on the weekend in the circle. She pitched a complete nine-inning game where she gave up just two earned runs, while striking out two in the process.
Just like the previous game, Northwestern got the scoring started, this time in the third inning where Kirk laced a single up the middle, bringing around
Katie Bell for the first score of the contest.
Another run crossed home plate for the visiting Red-and-Black in each of the next two innings, while giving up just one to the hosts to make the lead 3-1.
In the bottom half of the fifth and sixth however, the Tigers were able to equal the score on a double in the fifth and a SAC fly in the sixth.
Both pitchers locked down over the next inning and sent it to extras. Murray was once again electric in the waning moments of the game, shutting down the hosts through two extra frames, while
Peyton Garrett singled home
Macy Madewell in the ninth to take a 4-3 lead.
The lead would remain just that after a stellar 1-2-3 inning put up by Murray to seal the deal on the game and the series.
UP NEXT
Northwestern will now travel to Monticello, Ark. next Friday and Saturday to play the Blossoms of Arkansas-Monticello in another four-game series.
