ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State Softball completed an opening weekend series win on Saturday with a 4-0 win over Arkansas Monticello at the Alva Recreation Complex.

The Rangers scored two runs in the first inning and that was enough as Hannah Howell threw a 79 pitch complete-game four-hit shutout, keeping the UAM batters uneasy in the box all day. Howell struck out seven and walked one.

The Red-and-Black collected 21 outs in the game; they were evenly split seven by strikeout, seven groundouts and seven flyouts.

The win improves the Rangers 5-1 overall on the season and 2-1 in Great American Conference play, while Arkansas Monticello falls to 1-2 both overall and in GAC play.

Northwestern will travel to Wichita, Kan., on Tuesday, March 2, to take on Newman (Kan.) in the final non-conference doubleheader of the season, starting at 2 pm.

Kalie Johnson was the spark plug that NWOSU needed at the top of the lineup leading the team with two hits. The other three hits were by Howell, Jayden Solberg and Allison Zanca.

Morgan La Neve, Solberg and Zanca each had an RBI, while Johnson scored two runs, Lindsey McElroy and Zanca scored one.

Johnson singled into the left-field corner, McElroy then reached on an error. Johnson would score on a La Neve sacrifice fly to right field, then Solberg would double to left-center to score McElroy in the first to take a 2-0 lead.

In the third inning, Johnson would again get the rally going, this time with a leadoff double. Zanca would later drive her in on a double of her own. Zanca would advance to third on a groundout, then come home to score on a wild pitch to stretch the lead to 4-0.

UAM would send 14 batters to the plate over the final four innings. They could never solve Howell as only two Blossom's reached base from the fourth inning on.

For the latest news and updates on NWOSU Softball, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit www.riderangersride.com.