MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers continued to battle against the No. 3 ranked team in the nation Southern Arkansas on Saturday as they dropped both games of a doubleheader.
Madison Friest had two hits as the only Ranger to record more than one hit in the first game, while
Ashlie Green recorded a hit of her own with a two RBI double.
Lindsey McElroy drew two walks to reach base in both her at bats of the second game.
Game 1
SAU came into the first inning with hot bats as they led the game off with two homeruns and scored four to take an early lead of 4-0. The Muleriders tacked on three more runs in bottom of the second making it 7-0 SAU.
The Rangers held SAU scoreless in the third and came back with a two-out rally in the top of the fourth inning. Friest reached on a hard single to left field and was followed by
Taylor Russell sending a hard-hit ball to second base who then had an error allowing Friest to get all the way to third. Green came to the plate and sent a two-run double to left field, scoring both Friest and Russell to make the score 7-2.
SAU rallied back in the bottom of the fourth inning scoring three more runs and extending the lead to 10-2.
The Rangers knew they had to score in order to prevent the run rule from going into effect in the top of the fifth.
Kathryn Wells walked to lead-off the inning and then stole second base to put her into scoring position. Unfortunately, that's where she would stay as SAU would hold them and take the win 10-2.
Game 2
The second game of the doubleheader was a tough one for the Ranger's offense. They got their first baserunners in scoring position during the third inning with two walks by McElroy and
Morgan Kirk but were unable to plate a runner.
The Black-and-Red played good defense with no errors throughout the game but were unable to hold SAU's offense as they scored two in the first inning, one in the second, and two in the third extending their lead to 5-0.
The Rangers held them in the bottom of the fourth inning with no runs and then came into the top of the fifth threatening again.
The inning started with a lead-off walk by McElroy, her second of the game, and then advanced to second on a passed ball. A hard grounder by
Abby Detar lead to an error by the third baseman that moved McElroy to third. The Rangers were unable to push her across leading into the bottom of the fifth.
The Muleriders continue their offensive run with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, leading to the run rule and taking the game 8-0. Elisa Favela threw another gem for SAU, throwing a no-hitter against the Rangers in those five innings.
The Rangers will play again this coming weekend as they host the Arkansas-Monticello for their home opener. The doubleheader will start at 3 p.m. Friday afternoon at the Ranger Softball Field at the Alva Rec Center.
For the latest news and updates on NWOSU Softball, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit www.riderangersride.com.
