ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State softball returns home for senior day, welcoming Arkansas Tech for a three-game series at the Ranger Softball Field inside of the Alva Recreational Complex on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday before the first game at 10:40, Northwestern will recognize their three seniors: Jayden Solberg, Alexia Taylor, and Brianna Wisby.
The Rangers brings an overall record of 8-25 overall and 3-24 in Great American Conference play into the series.
Jill DeVries leads the Red-and-Black; this is her fifth season leading the program.
Northwestern has six players with a batting average above .280, with Hannah Howell leading the team with a .390, Mesa Gann has a .350, while Morgan La Neve holds a .299 average. Kalie Johnson has a batting average of .297, with an average of .289 is Allison Zanca and Lindsey McElroy has a .280. Howell and Solberg are tied for the team lead in homeruns with five apiece.
Howell carries a team-high 23 RBI into the game, Solberg follows with driving in 17. Morgan La Neve and Allison Zanca are tied for third on the team with 15 RBI, then McElroy is next for the Red-and-Black with 13.
Howell heads Northwestern's pitching staff; with a record of 5-10 coming into the series, throwing 91.2 innings allowing 89 runs, 62 earned, with an ERA of 4.73; she has struck out 55 batters this season. Hannah Scoggin has thrown 70.1 innings this season for the Rangers. She has an ERA of 4.78 while striking out 35. Taylor has a record of 2-1 in 10.0 innings pitched, surrendering 11 runs while striking out four.
Arkansas Tech:
The Golden Suns bring an overall record of 21-14-1 into the series, while 17-7 in the GAC. ATU has won 11 straight conference games heading into the weekend.
Caitlyn Wells leads Arkansas Tech with a .398 batting average, 12 doubles, two homeruns and 28 RBI. Paty Loredo boasts a .322 average, with four doubles, two homeruns and 15 RBI, while Makenzie Addis leads the Golden Suns with a team-high eight homeruns.
ATU has had five pitchers record a decision this season. They are led by Shannon Lasey in the circle, with a 7-5 record, an ERA of 3.03 in 69.1 innings pitched and collecting 61 strikeouts. Maddy Prough holds an ERA of 3.11 in 69.2 innings of work and has a record of 7-4, while Robyn Bales is 4-2 with an ERA of 5.50 in 35.2 innings.
Arkansas Tech is led by head coach Kristina McSweeney, who is in her ninth season at the helm in Arkadelphia. McSweeney has a record of 312-163-1 during that time.
History:
The Red-and-Black enter the series after falling to Harding last weekend. Northwestern was swept 4-0 by Arkansas Tech in 2019 in Alva, dropping the previous game 17-1. All-time, the Golden Suns lead the head-to-head series 19-9 and are in front with a 9-3 record in Alva. ATU has won the last 13 matchups, with the Rangers' previous victory in the series came on 4/23/2016 with a 3-2 win.
Game Times:
Saturday: Doubleheader 11 am / 1 pm
Sunday: 11 am
For the latest news and updates on NWOSU Softball, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit www.riderangersride.com.
