ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State split the Saturday afternoon doubleheader with Henderson State after the Reddies used a five run seventh inning to take game one. Northwestern used a three run second inning in the second game to win and clinch the series two games to three.
The series win improves the Rangers to 11-14 on the season and a 5-9 conference recored while the Reddies fall to 7-24 on the season with a 4-10 GAC mark.
GAME ONE:
Abby DeTar led the Rangers offense with three hits, two runs both team highs. Jaci Oakley scored two runs in the game tied for the team high. The Rangers had five players each with one RBI in DeTar, Jayden Solberg, Hannah Howell, Allison Zanca and Jillian Bouse.
Hannah Scoggin started game one for the Rangers, throwing six innings allowing five runs while striking out two in the loss. Victoria Vasquez allowed one earned run in her inning of work taking her first loss of the season.
Henderson State got the scoring started with a first inning run on a home run by Treutlein, a solo shot for the game's first run. The Reddies got one more hit in the inning but she was left on first.
Northwestern answered back though in their half of the inning following two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with two out. Zanca drew a two out bases loaded walk forcing in the Rangers first run as DeTar scored.
Scoggin through a scoreless second inning. In the Rangers half DeTar hit a double but that was all the Rangers could do keeping the game at 1-1. The two teams again traded zeros in the third inning after the Rangers were retired in order.
The Reddies took advantage of the Rangers miscue, scoring their second run to take a 2-1 lead on an error which followed a hit batter and a single.
Northwestern wasted no time answering back as in the fourth Oakley led off with a double and later scored on a Henderson State error.
After Scoggin held the score at 2-2 the Rangers before Northwestern jumped on the board for two runs in the fifth inning. DeTar started it with a single followed by McElroy walking. Solberg drove in the run with a signe scoring DeTar before McElroy scored on a ground out from Howell.
In the sixth inning Henderson State came back to tie the game after two one out singles put runners on the corner. Treutlein hit a sacrifice fly to center field to cut the deficit to 4-3. Monreal tied the game at four with a single back up the middle.
Rangers got the run back in the sixth after Oakley singled before being moved to second on a bunt. DeTar hit an RBi single and passed first base through the line to put the Rangers back up by one run.
Henderson State got the run back on a solo home run to tie the game at 5-5 to start a five run inning. Two straight singles put Reddies in position to take the lead. Trejo hit a sacrifice fly to take the 6-5 lead over the Rangers. An error pushed home the seventh run for the Reddies, a ground out followed by a single up the middle gave the Reddies the 9-5 lead.
Northwestern's comeback bid fell short in the ninth as Bouse drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run to cut the deficit to 9-6. Rangers would leave the bases loaded and drop game one 9-6.
GAME TWO:
Hannah Howell received the game two start, throwing a complete game allowing two runs while striking out five picking up her eighth win of the year.
DeTar went 4-4 at the plate in game two lead the Rangers with an RBI. Jaci Oakley led the team with 2-RBIs in the win along with two runs including her first home run of the season.
Henderson State jumped out first in game three of the series following a leadoff single and a steal Treutlein singled her home for a 1-0 lead. DeTar singled and stole second but would be left there as the Rangers traield 1-0 through the first.
The Rangers' offense struck in inning number two following a double by Zanca Georgio singled past the shortstop for the Rangers first run of the afternoon. With runners on the corners Oakley ripped a double in the gap in the center field scoring one run to take a 2-1 lead. DeTar followed with an RBI single to push the Rangers lead to 3-1.
The teams traded scoreless innings in the third inning following two singles in the inning though for the Reddies before Howell worked around the jam on a groundout.
Northwestern extended their lead on an Oakley solo home run for the fourth and final run of the game for the Rangers.
Henderson State answered back in the fifth inning on a solo home run of their own by Hughes to cut the lead down to 4-2.
In the seventh and final inning the Reddies attempted to comeback as they put the tying run on base drawing two walks in the inning but Howell settled in picking up a strike out for out number two before a ground out ended the game as the Rangers clinched the series win over Henderson State. The Rangers took two of three in the series for the first series victory over the Reddies since 2014, the first meeting between the two teams.
Northwestern will be back in action on Friday March 25th on the road for a three game series against Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia continuing conference play.
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