ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Ranger Softball opened their five game home stand Wednesday with a double header against Southwestern Oklahoma State closing out a doubleheader sweep over the Bulldogs. The Rangers used a 3-run home run to take the lead in game one before a six run inning sealed the win. Game two the Rangers used a late 2-run double by Abby DeTar to take the second game.
The Wednesday sweep improves the Rangers record to 9-8 overall on the season with a 3-5 Great American Conference record. The Bulldogs drop to 3-12 on the season with a 2-6 GAC record.
GAME ONE:
In the opening game of the day the Rangers were led in hits by Hannah Howell and Lindsey McElory with three a piece. Morgan La Neve led the team in RBI with three following a three run home run in the second inning. Howell finished with two in the first game.
On the mound Howell threw a complete game throwing six innings allowing one run while striking out a season high seven hitters on the season.
Southwestern had two base runners reach safely in the first on a single followed by a walk but HOwell would escape any damage following a foul out before a strike out to end the inning.
Northwestern in the bottom half had back to back singles but like the Rangers the Bulldogs were able to escape with no damage done.
Howell struck out two in the second inning before the Rangers jumped on the scoreboard with three runs. Northwestern in their half had back to back singles to start the inning before a La Neve three run blast to left center put the Rangers in front 3-0 over the Bulldogs.
The Ranger starter Howell kept the Bulldogs off the board in the third inning after giving up a single. The opening game remained 3-0 until the fifth inning when the Bulldog offense got on the board for the first time of the afternoon.
Following a walk and a single Southwestern would get a two-out single to left field by Wadley cutting their deficit to two at 3-1 through five innings of play.
After a quiet sixth inning for Southwestern the Rangers broke the game open in their half of the sixth inning. Oakley led things off with a double before Genesis Rodriguez singled back up the middle scoring Jacie Oakley for a 4-1 lead. DeTar followed with a single as McElroy hit back-to-back singles to load the bases. Howell than hit the third straight single for the Rangers pushing the lead to 6-1 in the inning as DeTar and Rodriguez came around to score. The last RBIs would come from a Zanca single to left field scoring Brooklyn Lachappa before a Oakley RBI would secure the Rangers 9-1 win in six innings.
GAME TWO:
In game two of the doubleheader Northwestern was led by Jayden Solberg, Abby DeTar, and Hannah Howell each with two hits. Solberg led the game with 3- RBI in the game followed by DeTar with two.
Hannah Scoggin received the start in game two throwing four innings while striking out four Bulldog hitters. Allie Hufford came in and pitched in relief throwing three innings striking out one while picking up her first win of the season.
Southwestern got the scoring started early in the game with a first inning run. A leadoff single led to a Carmo line out to center field for a sacrifice fly RBI bringing home Lee for the games first run. Northwestern was unable to answer back following a double play ending the inning.
The game remained 1-0 until the top of the third inning when the Bulldogs struck again. Following a leadoff single, Rahon would later double home Collins to left center giving Southwestern the 2-0 lead. Northwestern answered though striking with a four run bottom of the inning.
Taylor Graham was hit by pitch to lead things off before she would come around to score on a McElroy sacrifice fly to center field giving Northwestern their first run. With two runners on base Solberg then stepped up crushing a three run home run to left center field to take the first lead of the game at 4-2.
Southwestern answered back though in the fourth with a leadoff solo home run to cut the lead to 4-3 before a double would come around to score on a sacrifice fly in the inning bringing the game tied at 4-4.
The Bulldogs regained the lead in the fifth inning on a Rahon solo home run taking a 5-4 lead in the game their second of the game. Mackenzie Adams though helped the Rangers answer back with a RBI single to center field tying the game at 5-5.
The Rangers in the sixth had their first two runners reach safely before an Abby DeTar double to left center field pushed the Rangers in front one final time for a 7-5 lead.
Southwestern answered back with one run in the seventh inning to cut the game to 7-6 but Hufford was able to work around any further damage holding on for the sweep.
The Rangers will be back in action on Saturday with first pitches scheduled for 4:00 PM. Northwestern is set to open a three game series with Southeastern this weekend March 12th through 13th.
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