ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers ended their regular season with two wins against Great American Conference Southern Nazarene University Saturday afternoon. The Rangers started the day honoring their seven seniors who stepped up big to help the Black-and-Red take two.

The Rangers tallied fifteen hits through both games. Senior Morgan Kirk showed off for her last games at the Northwestern Softball Field as she went 4-got-6 with one run, five RBI's, and her second homerun of the series.

Kalie Johnson, Alexus Bailey, and Abbie Detar all had two-hits on the day. Johnson went 2-for-6 with three runs and three RBI's. Bailey went 2-for-7 with two runs, three RBI's, and one double. Detar went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one double.

Seniors Summer White and Ashlie Green both had a hit on the day as well as Morgan La Neve, Jada Overby, and Lindsey McElroy.

Game 1

Riding off the excitement from senior celebrations the Rangers came on strong in the bottom of the first inning. Back-to-back singles from Johnson and Bailey set the table for Kirk's second homerun of the series of the right-field fence which gave the Black-and-Red a 3-0 lead.

Green welcomed a new pitcher to the game with a double off the right field fence placing La Neve at third who then scored on a passed ball. Three straight batters in McElroy, Detar, and Johnson scored another run. The Rangers led SNU 5-0.

A solo homerun by Southern Nazarene cut the Ranger lead to 5-1 in the top of the second inning.

Senior pitcher Karly Murray held the Crimson Storm in the top of the third inning to allow Northwestern to add to their lead in the bottom half of the inning. Johnson scored McElroy on a fielder's choice for the first run of the inning. A double from Bailey to right-center added two more runs to the score to give the Rangers an 8-1 lead.

SNU continued to slowly add runs as they took advantage of an errant throw scoring one run on two hits in the top of the fourth inning. The Crimson storm held the Rangers in the bottom half of the inning and continued to score adding two more runs on three hits in their half of the fifth.

The Rangers fought back in the bottom of the fifth inning. In an almost identical play form the third inning, Johnson scored McElroy on a fielder's choice ground ball with McElroy beating out the throw at home. Detar followed closely behind as she scored on a passed ball. The final of the run was scored on a single from Kirk as she plated Johnson to give the Black-and-Red a 11-4 lead.

A three-run homerun from the Crimson Storm in the top of the sixth allowed them to stay within reach of Northwestern with a score of 11-7.

Southern Nazarene continued to battle after sitting the Rangers down in order in the bottom of the sixth. The Crimson Storm loaded the bases in their last half inning and followed through with a run before Murray made the last batter pop-out to take the game one with a score of 11-8 in seven innings. 

Game 2

The second game was a pitcher's duel as both teams went completely scoreless for six straight innings. Senior pitcher Allison Wells threw a complete extra inning game with only one run scored, and four strikeouts using her defensive to help take the win.

Southern Nazarene and Northwestern both tallied seven hits throughout the eighth inning second game, which made the game a tough defensive battle.

A lone single from Kirk in the bottom of the first inning made her the only baserunner through the first two innings for the Rangers, while also holding the Crimson Storm scoreless.

Back-to-back singles in Northwestern's half of the third inning from Detar and Johnson started a rally for NWOSU, but they were unable to get any runners across the plate.

Southern Nazarene threatened to score in the top of the fourth with runners on second and third, but the Ranger's defense stepped up as A. Wells ended the inning on a huge strikeout.

SNU rallied again in the top of the sixth as they loaded the bases on a two out rally which was quickly stopped with an inning ending fly-out to left field.

The Rangers, however, used the momentum change to their advantage. In the bottom of the sixth inning pinch hitter Jada Overby stepped up to the plate and sent a line drive off the fence in right field for a lead-off double. Bailey then re-entered for Overby and Kirk blasted a single through the middle of the infield which plated Bailey for the first run of the game.

SNU answered back in the top of the seventh inning as they scored one run on three hits throughout the inning. Two straight ground-outs with a phenomenal play in the five-six whole by senior Kirk which held the score tied 1-1.

The Rangers were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh which led the game into extra innings. Northwestern held their opponent as A. Wells sat them down in order.

A lead-off double by Detar, who was then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Johnson started a rally for the Rangers. Bailey sent a slow ground ball to the second baseman who then attempted to throw pinch runner Madeline McIntyre out at home. Her throw sailed securing the win for the Rangers as they took the game, 2-1 in the eighth inning securing the doubleheader sweep and series win against Southern Nazarene.