LUBBOCK, TEXAS- Northwestern Oklahoma State Softball closed out their trip in Lubbock Sunday morning into the afternoon with a 10-2 win in five innings over Chadron State. The Red-and-Black used a quick start to this game with 10 runs in the first three innings coming from a big third inning after batting around for six runs.
Northwestern now improves to 3-2 on the season with the Sunday victory closing out the Lubbock Christian Festival with a win.
Hannah Howell threw her third complete game in as many days down in Lubbock after throwing two seven inning complete games she would throw all five this afternoon. She finished allowing one earned run with five strikeouts. Howell now has a 3-0 record on the season.
Lindsey McElroy and Jayden Solberg led the Rangers in hits with two each. McElroy led the team with 3-RBIs. Abby DeTar and Jill Bouse each had two RBIs on the day. Genesis Rodriguez, DeTar and McElroy finished with two runs scored to lead the Rangers.
Northwestern got things started in the top half of the first inning as McElroy walked before stealing second. Solberg would drive her home with a single back up the middle for the first run of the game giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead. The Eagles would escape further damage.
The Eagles answered back in their half of the inning with a solo home run to center field hit by Martinez, their leadoff hitter, as the game was tied 1-1 after the first inning.
The Rangers wasted no time answering back though as in their half of the inning the Red-and-Back would put a three spot on the board. Mackenzie Adams would draw a one-out walk. Runners were on first and second following a second walk before DeTar cleared the bases with a 2-RBI triple. She would come around to score as McElroy followed the triple with an RBI double as the Rangers took a 4-1 lead.
Chadron State was able to get one run back in the bottom half of the inning following a leadoff single back up the middle, and a stolen base put an Eagle runner in scoring position. The runner would come around to score on a fielder's choice following an error. Northwestern led 4-2 through two innings.
The Rangers used a big third inning to break the game open. Solberg started things off with a single to shortstop followed by a stolen base putting her in scoring position. Allison Zanca followed with an RBI double to center field. With runners on second and third Bouse roped a double, scoring Zanca and Solberg for two runs. Adams kept the hit parade going with an RBI single to left field, scoring Zanca for a 7-2 Ranger lead. Rodriguez kept things going with another single. McElroy tripled scoring both runners for the Rangers and she was followed with a Howell single scoring McElroy as the Rangers completed a six run inning batting around the whole lineup.
Eagles tried to get runs back in their half of the inning as they moved runners onto first and second with two out but Howell was able to escape the inning with no damage done as the Rangers held a 10-2 lead after three innings.
In the fourth inning the Eagles had their leadoff hitter Conradie reach on a single but Howell worked around the leadoff runner and retired the rest in order on back-to-back strikeouts and a fly out to right field.
In the fifth and final inning the Rangers had DeTar reach safely but the Eagles worked around it keeping the game at 10-2. Chadron State put runners on first and second following two shingles in the inning but Howell kept them there striking out the final batter of the game looking giving the Rangers the 10-2 victory in five innings.
The Rangers will return home for six straight home games. The Red-and-Black will play in their home opener on Tuesday with a doubleheader against Newman University on Tuesday at 2:00PM and 4:00PM.
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