ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers have had a tough start to the season but have continued to play better than their record shows.

The freshman heavy line-up continues to improve as the season goes on with multiple of those freshmen making a huge impact during a doubleheader against the University of Arkansas at Monticello Saturday afternoon.

Freshman Madison Friest came up big during the two games going 4-7 at the plate, while tallying three RBI's in the second game. She also recorded her first ever collegiate homerun during the second game sending one deep over the right-center fence.

Two more freshman in Abby Detar and Kalie Johnson were the only other Rangers to tally two hits. Friest (1), Detar (2), and Johnson (3) scored all six runs for the Black-and-Red throughout the two games.

Game 1

The Rangers faced a tough game in the first half of the doubleheader against UAM only earning four hits in five innings, while leaving six baserunners on.

UAM attacked Northwestern pitching in the first inning scoring two runs in the top of the first inning off four hits, while also flashing their speed by swiping two bases. They took an early lead of the Rangers 2-0.

The Rangers threatened in the bottom of the first with a lead-off baserunner in Detar followed by a Johnson single. They were able to advance to the runners to second and third but could not push them across the plate.

UAM's speed showed in the third while also taking advantage of a few miscues by the Ranger defense extending its lead to 3-0.

The Black-and-Red were unable to grab more than a hit in the next couple innings. The Cotton Blossoms, however, continued to slowly add to their lead. In the top of the fourth inning added two more runs to their lead taking advantage of a passed ball and two more hits.

The top of the top of the fifth was not much different with the Cotton Blossoms continuing to show off their speed with two more stolen bases, extending their lead to 8-0. The Rangers were unable to answer back, going three up three down in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the run rule in effect the Ranger's took the loss 8-0 in the fifth inning.

Game 2

Coach Jill Devries decided to change things up by starting a line-up of eight freshman for the second game of the doubleheader. It seemed to work in the first inning with the Rangers holding UAM from scoring any runs in the top of the first.

The Rangers came out hot in the bottom of the first inning. Back-to-back singles by Detar and Johnson started out the inning giving the Black-and-Red something to rally around. Madison Friest broke open the scoring sending the ball deep over the right center fence, giving the Rangers a 3-0 lead.

The Rangers defense continued to hold the UAM offense scoreless heading into the bottom of the third inning. Johnson reached base after being hit by a pitch to get their lead-off runner on to start off the offense. Friest followed with a double down the right field line getting Johnson to third base on the hit. Freshman Jayden Flowers got her first RBI of the game grounding out to the second baseman, plating Johnson and extending the Ranger lead to 4-0.

UAM came rallying back in the top of the fourth inning taking advantage of a few defensive miscues. The Cotton Blossoms scored four runs on four hits during a two-out rally, tying the game 4-4.

UAM continued their scoring through the fifth inning with a homerun, and a double to extend their lead to 7-4. The Rangers threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning getting Lindsey McElroy (hit by pitch) into scoring position after another Friest hit up the middle but was unable to score any runs.

The Cotton Blossoms continued their scoring in the top of the sixth inning. The Rangers struggled on defense with three errors in the inning helping UAM's two hits add four more runs to their lead with the score sitting at 11-4.

In the bottom of the seventh inning the Rangers knew that they had to score.

Detar stepped up again with another single through the right side of the field. Johnson followed by taking advantage of an error by the first baseman. Flowers walked loading the bases for Caden Cunningham who sent a single to right field scoring both Detar and Johnson cutting into UAM's lead.

Unfortunately, no more runs were able to score for the Ranger offense allowing UAM to take the game with a final score of 11-6.

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