Wichita, Kan. – Northwestern Oklahoma State softball completed the sweep of Newman (Kan.), winning game one 9-3 and rallied back in game two to win 9-7 in eight innings on Tuesday in Wichita, Kan., at the NU Softball Field.
The Rangers picked up where they left off over the weekend, scoring four runs in the first inning. The Red-and-Black went pitcher by committee, getting Alexia Taylor and Kameron Ryer action in the circle for the first time this season, while Allie Hufford finished the game.
Northwestern improves the Rangers 7-2 overall, while Newman falls to 2-9; with the two wins today, the Rangers complete their out-of-conference schedule with a 5-1 record.
Taylor would secure the win after throwing 3.0 innings and only allowing four hits. Ryer would come in to throw 2.0 innings, surrendering three earned runs on four hits and Hufford would pitch the final two innings, only giving up a hit.
The Northwestern offense connected on 11 hits, with three extra-base hits. They were led by Morgan La Neve and Jayden Solberg with three hits apiece. Hannah Howell chipped in two hits, while Kalie Johnson, Lindsey McElroy and Shelbie Roberson had one.
Solberg led the team with three RBI, La Neve and McElroy each had two, and Howell added an RBI. Johnson, La Neve and Solberg each scored two runs, while McElroy, Roberson and Brianna Wisby scored one.
To start the game, Johnson singled to center field, then later scored on a Newman error. Solberg would triple to right, knocking in Howell and La Neve. Solberg would score on a McElroy to left, giving the Rangers a 4-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Roberson would leadoff with a single to right, then steal second; Johnson and Wisby would ear back-to-back walks to load the bases. La Neve singled through the right side to drive in Roberson and Johnson. Howell would finish the scoring with a double to right-center to score Wisby and give the Red-and-Black an 8-0 lead.
The Jets would get a run in the bottom of the fourth off two doubles, one from Lauren Kwak, and she scored off a double from Lauren Kuhrt.
In the fifth innings, Newman used a leadoff walk to Anissa Ramos to get a rally started, Paige Wallace would single, Emma Eck would drive in Ramos with a single to left field, with two outs Wallace would steal home.
Solberg would add an insurance run in the top of the seventh, connecting with the first pitch she saw and sending it over the wall in the left-center.
NU would get a runner on in the bottom of the seventh but could not mount a comeback.
In the nightcap, Northwestern kept the scoring going. McElroy got things going in the first with a double to left, moved upon an error, then scored on a La Neve groundout. Solberg walked, then Howell was hit by a pitch. Allison Zanca followed up the two free passes with an RBI single to center, allowing Solberg to score. Howell would come home on a Mesa Gann single back up the middle, making it 3-0 after the top half of the first inning.
The Jets got a run in the bottom of the third inning when Eck doubled to left, scoring Taylor Ullery.
In the fourth inning, Gann led off with a single to center, Roberson pinch-running would advance to second and third by a bunt by Kelsey Housley and a ground ball hit by Wisby. Johnson would single to left, allowing Roberson to cross the plate to give the Red-and-Black a 4-1 lead.
Newman would get things going against the Rangers relievers, Victoria Vasquez and Howell, scoring six runs in the inning. Howell was able to stop the bleeding and in the fifth inning before throwing three scoreless innings in the sixth, seventh and eighth.
Northwestern found themselves down 7-4 with two outs and two on the top of the seven when Howell would battle fouling off three pitches before breaking through with an RBI single to left field, scoring McElroy. Zanca would then double into the left-field corner, driving home Howell and Ryer, who was running for La Neve, to tie the game at 7-7.
In the bottom of the seventh, Howell would surrender a leadoff walk but could hold the Jets there and force the game to extra innings.
Wisby would get things going with a single off the pitcher's leg, Johnson would follow with a single of her own. McElroy would single and move up to second on the throw, scoring Wisby and forcing Newman to make a pitching change. La Neve would ground out but successfully got Johnson home to give the Rangers a 9-7 lead.
Howell would get three straight outs in the bottom of the eight to secure the comeback victory for the Red-and-Black.
Hannah Scoggin would start in game two, throwing 4.0 innings, allowing a run on five hits and striking out two. Vasquez, would come into the game and unable to record an out. She surrendered three runs on two hits. Howell would pitch the final 4.0 innings giving up three runs, two earned, on five hits with three strikeouts.
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