SHAWNEE, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State Falls in the series opener to Oklahoma Baptist on Friday 6-0 at the Bison Softball Field.

The Rangers fall to 8-20 overall and 3-19 in the Great American Conference after the loss on Friday.

The Red-and-Black collected seven hits, with Mesa Gann, Hannah Howell, and Allison Zanca leading the way with two hits, while Lindsey McElroy collected one.

Howell would drive in both runs on two solo homeruns.

Hannah Scoggin would get the start for the Rangers, throwing 1.0+ innings, surrendering seven runs, five earned on eight hits.

Howell would pitch the final 5.0 innings allowing a run on three hits, only allowing two runners to reach base after the second inning.

The Bison got on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first to take an early 2-0 lead.

OBU added six more runs to build an 8-0 lead after two innings.

Northwestern would start to touch up Jones in the fourth when Howell would connect with a solo homerun down the line in left to get the Rangers on the scoreboard trailing 8-1.

Howell would lead off the top of the sixth inning, hammering the second pitch she saw over the left-center wall to cut into the Bison lead. McElroy would then double, followed by a Gann infield single, but Shelbie Roberson was thrown out attempting to steal second to end the inning. The Red-and-Black would trail 8-2 heading to the final inning.

Zanca would lead off the seventh inning with a single down the line in left but would not advance, and Northwestern would fall to Oklahoma Baptist 8-2.

The Rangers will return to the diamond tomorrow for a doubleheader against Oklahoma Baptist scheduled to start at noon, with game three of the series to follow after the conclusion.

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