EDMOND, Okla. - It was the final day for the Edmond Regional Festival II and Northwestern Oklahoma State University softball took on the host team Central Oklahoma. Hits were hard to come by for the Rangers as they battled the cold weather and third straight day of playing.
 
Northwestern knew this would be a tough match-up as the Bronchos carried a 13-1 record and winners of nine straight at their home field. Freshmen Madison Friest, Caden Cunningham, Lindsey McElroy and Abby Detar had one hit each, equaling the Rangers four hits during the game.
 
UCO was very selective of the pitches they were swinging at in the first inning, earning four walks and five hits while capitalizing on Ranger errors. The Bronchos were able to string together ten runs in the first inning, despite the pitching change from the Rangers.
 
The Bronchos were able to keep the Rangers fairly quiet until the top of the third inning.
 
McElroy started the inning with a four-pitch walk giving the Rangers their second baserunner of the game. This was followed by a huge double by freshman Detar, moving McElroy into scoring position with no outs. Morgan Kirk stepped up with a ground-out RBI to the shortstop cutting into UCOs lead, making the score 10-1.
 
UCO was able to scratch two more runs on the board in the bottom of the third inning extending their lead 12-1, but the Rangers hadn't lost hope. They took advantage of some Broncho miscues during the top of the fourth inning.
 
Morgan La Neve reached first after she was hit by a pitch. Friest then scorched a double to the right center field fence advancing La Neve to third base. Cunningham earned her first RBI of the game with a hard ground ball to shortstop, allowing La Neve to reach home plate while moving Friest to third.
 
Friest was then able to score on a passed ball, giving them their third run, 12-3.
 
The Bronchos were hard to stop, however, and continued to have some big hits including a double, and two triples in the bottom of the fourth inning. This increased their lead 15-3 and put all the pressure on the Rangers.
 
Despite a last effort single by McElroy it was not enough to prevent the run rule from going into effect, giving UCO the 15-3 win in five innings.
 
Northwestern (0-4) will take the field next for its home home opener against Cameron this Tuesday. The doubleheader will start at 2 p.m. at the Alva Rec. Center.
 
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