ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State found the going tough in the first game of the series against East Central on Friday afternoon at the Alva Recreation Complex, falling to the Tigers 2-1 in 10 innings.
The loss drops NWOSU to 7-3, 2-2 in the Great American Conference, while ECU improves to 5-5, 1-3 in GAC play. The 10 inning game would last three hours and 16 minutes.
Hannah Howell and Kalie Johnson led Northwestern with a pair of hits each. The remaining three hits were from Jayden Flowers, Mesa Gann and Jayden Solberg.
The Red-and-Black scored their lone run off a leadoff solo homerun in the second by Solberg to dead center field.
Howell tossed all 10 innings and allowed four hits, two runs, one earned, struck out two, and surrendering three walks; she threw 145 pitches in the complete-game loss, falling to 5-1 on the season.
East Central started Paige Leschber; she would pitch the first 5.1 innings, allowing a run on five hits, before turning the reigns over the Taia Harris. Harris would shut the Rangers down over the final 4.2 innings, allowing two hits and striking out eight.
The Tigers would manufacture their first run with the help of NWOSU in the sixth inning. Kaleigh Ham would reach on a dropped fly ball, advancing to second on the error. She would later steal third and come home on a throwing error trying to catch her stealing.
In the 10th inning, Josi Goodman would get on by a four-pitch walk, then steal second. Miranda Garza would pinch hit and double to center field to drive in the winning run.
Northwestern attempted to rally in the bottom of the 10th when Howell would reach on an infield single to second, Mesa Gann, pinch-hitting would single to center. Both Kelsey Housley and Shelbie Roberson, running for their teammates, would advance on a second baseman's throwing error. They would be stranded at second and third to end the game.
The series will wrap-up tomorrow. The first pitch has been moved back to a 1 pm start due to the late finish tonight, with game three to follow shortly after the conclusion of the first game tomorrow.
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