ALVA, OKLA- Northwestern Oklahoma State Softball opened their 2022 home schedule with some fireworks. Rangers opened the first game with a quick start using a three run first inning before scoring in every inning of the game before eight running the Jets in five innings with a final of 13-5. In game two the Rangers would use a seven run third inning and three run seventh to walk off win over the Jets Tuesday.
The two wins the Rangers improve to 5-2 on the season with their second walk-off win of the season. Northwestern improves to 2-0 at home with the sweep as well.
Game 1:
Northwestern had Lindsey McElroy and Jayden Solberg lead the team with three hits each. McElroy led the team with 5-RBIs in the afternoon followed by Abby DeTar with three on the game. MacKenzie Adams and Brianna Wisby had the other RBI for the Rangers.
Hannah Howell received the game on Tuesday , throwing four innings striking out one while picking up her fourth win of the season improving to 4-0 on the season. Allie Hufford pitched the fifth and final inning, throwing a scoreless frame.
The Jets started early Tuesday putting runners on first and second before Ullery would hit an RBI single to right field, scoring Kuhrt for the first run of the game. Howell escaped further damage for the Rangers keeping it 1-0.
Northwestern wasted no time answering back though as a leadoff walk for DeTar led to a McElroy 2-run home run in the first inning to put the Rangers in front 2-1. After a ground out Solberg followed with a home run pushing the Rangers lead to 3-1.
Newman responded in the top half of the second inning as Canez hit a solo home run to left field as they cut the Ranger's deficit down to one at 3-2.
The Red-and-Black again for the second straight inning took advantage of a walk as this time DeTar hit a 2-run home run extending the Rangers lead to 5-2 after Northwestern hit their third home run in two innings.
Newman would not stop fighting as they answered back with a second and third one out before a Ullery double brought around two more runs for the Jets and cut the deficit to one at 5-4 with the Rangers in front. Howell kept it at four runs as in the bottom half of the inning the Rangers would extend the lead again.
In the third inning following a Howell single and Solberg double Adams stepped up with second and third one out driving in Howell on an RBI groundout. Rangers led 6-4 through three innings.The Jets answered back with an RBI single from Mayo scoring Cooke for a 6-5 Northwestern lead.
Oakley started things off with a single to center field and would late come around to score on a Detar single back through the middle. McElroy would then hit an RBI single keep the pressure on the Jets. Solberg would hit her second home run of the game extending the lead to a 10-5 Northwestern lead through four innings.
Hufford then came in throwing a scoreless fifth inning helping the Rangers put the game away. Wisby would drive in a run on an RBI groundout for an 11-5 lead before McElory would drive a double to left center for a 2-RBI double, scoring Detar and Oakley for the Rangers eight run win in five innings for the first walk-off of the day.
Game two:
Howell would lead the Rangers in hits in game two with four in the game followed by MacKenzie Adams having three including the walk-off home run. Three others had two hits on the game. Genesis Rodriguez finished with a team high four-RBIs in the second game.
Hannah Scoggin received the start throwing the first 3.2 innings before she was replaced by Kameron Ryer and Allison Zanca throwing the middle innings of the game. Victoria Vasquez would enter to pitch 1.1 innings of work allowing zero runs before picking up her first win of the season.
Much like the first game there would be a plethora of runs in game two. The Jets started things off in their half of the first inning with two runs. Ullery would take advantage of a Ranger miscue reaching and driving in a run on an error. Ramos followed with an RBI single to center field.
Newman responded with a shutdown inning on the Rangers as Northwestern went down in order. The Jets extended their lead on a double down the left field line for a 3-0 lead following a Cooke steal. With Newman holding a 3-0 lead the Rangers were ready to answer.
Following two straight outs Kalie Johnson would get things started with a 2-out walk and an Oakley walk brought up Rodriguez. She delivered with a single, scoring two runs and bringing the Rangers back within one. DeTar would later follow with an RBI single tying the game at 3-3 as Rodriguez came around to score. Newman would score one in their half of the third inning taking the 4-3 lead back in their hands.
Howell started things off with a double to left followed by an Adams walk before Johnson delivered an RBI single to left field tying the game back at four. Rodriguez would give Northwestern their first lead of game two on a sacrifice fly. The Rangers were not done yet with a 2-RBI single to right field pushing the Rangers in front 7-4. The Red-and-Black were still not done yet as McElroy delivered an RBI double followed by a Howell double and the Rangers were up by six through three innings in a 10-4 lead.
The Jets had the answer right away though wasting no time as Mayo hit a 2-run home run to center field to cut their deficit to four. Three batters later it was Ramos crushing a three-run home run bringing the score to 10-9 in the fourth inning. In the Rangers half of the inning Rodriguez would once again deliver this time with an RBI single as Adam came around to score as Northwestern went back up 11-9 over the Jets.
The visitors were ready to answer with three runs in their half of the inning after getting runners on first and second nobody out Kuhurt doubled to right center to tie the game at 11-11 before a Navarro single put the Jets back in front at 12-11.
In the top of the sixth inning the Jets scored on a wild pitch before a Navarro single put the Jets back in front as they went into the seventh inning leading 16-14.
As the Rangers came to bat for the final time of the game they trailed by two but the comeback bid was on. Howell and Solberg started things off with back-to-back hits for second and third one out. Graham pinch ran for Howell, scored on a wild pitch before Adams blasted one to left field for a walk-off home run over the Jets.
The Rangers will be back in action Thursday afternoon with a doubleheader against Friends University at home at Rangers Softball Field at the Alva recreational complex.
