DURANT, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers only have two series left in their regular season. The Rangers headed to Durant, Oklahoma for a Great American Conference match-up against Southeastern Oklahoma State University Friday afternoon.
The Rangers came to play against the Savage Storm earning 18 hits through both ends of the doubleheader. Senior Morgan Kirk had an outstanding second game as she went 4-for-4 with two runs, one RBI, and three of her four hits were doubles. Kirk went 4-for-6 on the day. Freshman Abby Detar also had a successful day as she recorded three hits on six attempts, with one RBI, as she recorded one of the five hits in the first game.
Jayden Flowers, Taylor Russell, Alexa Moses, Alexus Bailey all recorded two hits on the day. Bailey sent a double off the wall in the first game while as she also earned an RBI. Russell scored a single in both games while also crossing the plate for a run. Moses and Flowers had one RBI each in the second game.
Game 1
The Rangers were able to play well against Southeastern in the first game preventing the Savage Storm from finding a consistent rhythm throughout the game but could not answer SOSU's runs with runs of the thier own. With only five hits total in the first game, the Black-and-Red were unable to start any consistent rallies.
Northwestern's Alexus Bailey tried to get a rally going in the top of the first as she sent a ball only a foot short of being a homerun off the wall in the first inning but was left stranded to give the momentum to the Savage Storm.
Southeastern took advantage and scored a run in the bottom of the first inning on only two hits showing off their speed as well as their bunting abilities which the Savage Storm relied heavily on throughout the two-game series. The Rangers tried to answer back as Flowers sent a double down the left field line but was left on third unable to score.
SOSU continued their momentum through the bottom of the second inning as they tacked on another run off only two hits. An errant throw and some miscommunication allowed the Savage Storm run to cross the plate giving Southeastern a 2-0 lead.
The Rangers took advantage of an error in the top of the third inning as Detar sent a deep fly ball off the glove the left fielder and was able to reach second on the play. Bailey's second hit led to the only RBI of the game as Detar came around to score to make it 2-1.
Southeastern offense exploded in the bottom of the fourth inning as they plated three runs on two hits while also taking advantage of some Ranger defensive miscues. The Savage Storm extended their lead to 5-1.
The Savage Storm continued to hold the Ranger offense from scoring while earning two more runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth inning on five hits total, one being a solo homerun. With Northwestern unable to answer SOSU takes the game in seven with a final score of 7-1.
Game 2
The second game was much different from the first as the Black-and-Red outhit the Savage Storm with 13 hits to their 11.
Sacrifice bunts and speed showed to be a huge factor of Southeastern's strategy as Symphoni Shomo walked, stole second and third and then scored their first run in the bottom of the first off a squeeze play to put SOSU up 1-0.
Northwestern answered quickly in the top of the second inning with three straight singles from Kirk, Moses, and McElroy to load the bases. Detar sent a single into the five-six hole to score Kirk and tie the game 1-1.
A double and two more sacrifice bunts, with one being another squeeze allowed Southeastern to score their second run of the game to take the lead 2-1.
An offensive outburst came from the Savage Storm in the bottom of the fourth inning as they scored five runs on three hits and one Ranger error. Southeastern extended their lead over the Rangers 7-1.
The Black-and-Red came blazing back to cut into the now six run lead scoring three runs on five hits. Jada Overby and Russell earned back-to-back singles to set the stage for an on-fire Kirk who then doubled again to plate Overby. Flowers and Moses followed suit with two RBI singles of their own as two more runs crossed the plate for Northwestern. NWOSU cut the lead 7-4
Southeastern took advantage of an errant throw in the bottom of the fifth to score their eighth run as they tacked on another run to make the score 8-4.
A solo homerun in the bottom of the sixth inning sealed the win for the Savage Storm. The Rangers were unable to answer in their half of the seventh to give a 9-4 win to Southeastern for the second game of the evening.
Northwestern will continue their series against Southeastern Oklahoma State with the first pitch set for tomorrow, Saturday, at 10 a.m.
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