ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers took one half of the doubleheader in the game against Henderson State University on Friday Afternoon.
Northwestern had multiple players who recorded hits including
Morgan Kirk who went 3-for-5 on the day with a homerun, two RBIs, and one of the only two singles hit in the second game. Freshman
Madison Friest had another good day at the plate going 2-for-4 in the first game with a homerun of her own.
Morgan La Neve also recorded 2-4 in the first game.
Ashlie Green came in clutch with a big two RBI hit in the eighth inning, going 1-for-4 in the first game.
Abby Detar recorded the only other hit of the second game of the doubleheader.
Game 1
Karly Murray pitched a gem in the first game of the doubleheader, going all eight innings, and striking out four.
Bailey Whitener started off the top of the second inning by getting on base for the Rangers on an errant throw.
Lindsey McElroy followed with a hard ground ball to the shortstop and was able to reach on a fielder's choice. Kirk opened the scoring for the Rangers by sending a two-run homer over the left field fence, plating McElroy and giving the Black-and-Red a 2-0 lead.
The momentum started in the top of the second inning continued into the third. Friest sent her second career homerun deep over the outfield fence, tacking on another run to the Ranger's lead. Both Friest homers came in consecutive games.
Henderson State came screaming back in the bottom of the fourth inning. A solo homerun and some defensive miscues allowed the Reddies to score two runs of their own, cutting the Rangers lead to one run with a score of 3-2.
A very quick fifth inning prevented either team from adding any runs, with both having one, two, three, innings. The Rangers hang onto their 3-2 lead headed into the top of the sixth inning.
The Black-and -Red were unable to score any runs in their half of the sixth inning. The Reddies, however, were able to tie it up in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring their third run of the game on a double steal.
An uneventful seventh inning lead the Rangers into extra innings where the Black-and-Red offense exploded.
The rally in the top of the eighth inning began with a
Kalie Johnson single, her first of the game. Two more singles by Friest and La Neve would load the bases up for senior Green, who sent a deep two RBI single over the right fielder's head scoring Johnson and
Shelbie Roberson (pinch-runner for Friest) giving the Ranger's the 5-3 lead.
A walk by
Bailee Whitener would load the bases for
Lindsey McElroy, who hit a bouncer to the shortstop causing an error and scored the Rangers' final run of the game in
Madeline McIntyre (pinch-runner for La Neve).
The Rangers would hold the Reddies in the bottom of the eighth inning giving them their third win on the year with a score of 6-3.
Game 2
The second half of the doubleheader the Rangers had a difficult time at the plate, recording only two hits through out the five innings of play, but were still able to record eight baserunners during the game.
The game was uneventful until the top of the second inning when the Rangers had back-to-back walks in Whitener and
Caden Cunningham but could not earn any runs.
The offense for the Reddies came to life in the bottom of the second. They recorded six hits, with eight baserunners, and scored six runs in their half of the inning. Alexis Morton came up big for the Reddies with a grand slam, tallying four of her five total RBI's in the game.
The Rangers threatened to rally back in the top of the third inning. Detar lead off with a single, the first of the game and her second on the day, followed by another set of walks from Johnson and La
Neve to load the bases. Unfortunately, the Black-and-Red were unable to drive the runners in leaving them stranded with the score staying 6-0 in favor of the Reddies. Henderson State continued their offensive rampage in the bottom of the third. With perfect execution on a squeeze play, two stolen bases, and three more singles allowed them to add two more runs to their lead, giving them an 8-0 score.
Kirk's lone single in the top of the fourth inning was all the Rangers could manage but came out on defense going down in order to hold Henderson State to their 8-0 score.
The Rangers were unable to score any more runs, and with an 8-0 score the run rule was in effect, allowing Henderson to take the win in just five innings.
Northwestern Softball plays again tomorrow afternoon starting at 12 p.m. to finish out their series against Henderson State.
For the latest news and updates on NWOSU Softball, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit www.riderangersride.com.
