LUBBOCK, Texas- Northwestern Oklahoma State Softball continued their opening weekend with their second straight split doubleheader day. Northwestern used a five run second inning to take control of the opening game vs Colorado School of Mines 9-2. Northwestern would fall in the second game after Lubbock Christian put up a four spot in the first.
With the split doubleheader the Rangers remain .500 on the season with a 2-2 record this season with all games being played in Lubbock.
Game 1:
Hannah Howell received her second start of the season following a complete game shutout performance Friday with her second straight complete game. She threw seven innings allow two runs along with five strikeouts.
The Ranger offense was led by Hannah Howell with two hits and 6 RBIs. Abby Detar and Jaci Oakley had two hits as well in the win with Detar having 2 RBIs. The final RBI was hit by Mackenzie Adams.
Northwestern would threaten in the top of the first inning as they loaded the bases but were not able to capitalize. Colorado School of Mines scored in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI groundout by OshiroSano with a run and hit in the inning they took a 1-0 lead over the Rangers.
As the Rangers trailed 1-0 in the second inning the Rangers used a big inning to take control of this game. Oakley got things started with a single followed by a Genesis Rodriguez walk. Detar would put the Ranger on the board with a double to right center pushing the Rangers in front 2-1. Later in the inning with runners on the corners Howell would extend the Ragners lead with a three run bomb to right center givign Northwestern the 5-1 lead through their half of the second.
The Mines would hit back-to-back doubles in their half of the second inning to cut their deficit to three runs at 5-2 through two innings.
Northwestern however wasted no time answering back as Adams roped an RBI double to left field pushing the lead to 6-2. Howell would step up with the bases loaded as she hit a bases-clearing double, scoring McElroy, Rodriguez, and Adams to give Northwestern a 9-2 lead.
Colorado had their best scoring opportunity to comeback in the fourth inning having runners reach second and third nobody out. However Howell had other plans and she got the next three batters out on a ground out, strike out, fly out.
The Rangers would hold the 9-2 lead into the seventh inning. In the bottom half of the inning Colorado Springs would get one base runner on single to left. Howell would retire the next two batters giving Northwestern the 9-2 win.
Game Two:
Allie Hufford received the game two start for the day throwing 2IP before being relieved by Allison Zanca and Hannah Scoggin in the evening game. Howell would be the Rangers lone base runner in the game drawing a walk.
Lubbock Christian got things started early in the bottom of the first inning they opened the score with a four run first inning taking advantage of a couple Rangers miscues.
The Rangers would go down in order in the 2nd inning before Chaps would tack on two more runs with the second coming on an RBI single to left field for a 6-0 lead.
With the 6-0 score still holding, the Chaps would break the game open with a six run inning extending their lead to 12-0. The runs would come on an RBI single scoring two runs before a base clearing triple. The final runs of the day would be scored on a Herrera home run scoring two runs.
The Rangers split the doubleheader Saturday and will close out their weekend series in Lubbock with a single game Sunday morning against Chadron State.
