ALVA, OKLAHOMA - The Ranger Softball team closed out their three game series with Harding University Saturday afternoon. The Bisons scored three straight innings to jump out to a 2-0 lead before closing out a 4-2 victory.
 

The loss drops the Rangers to 13-28-1 on the season while Harding improves to 32-14 on the season after the win. 
 

Morgan La Neve led the team with two hits in the game followed by five players with one hit each. Hannah Howell had an RBI off a solo home run and Jayden Solberg drove in one on a single in the fourth inning. 

Howell took the ball to start the game, throwing five innings allowing four runs on two strikeouts. She was relieved by Hannah Scoggin and Victoria Vasquez combining for 1.2 scoreless innings. 
 

In the first inning  the pitching jumped out to a fast start after a one out walk, Howell used a ground ball double play hit too short to throw a scoreless first inning. Northwestern went down in order in their half of the first.

After a scoreless top of the second inning the Rangers picked up their first hit from La Neve in the bottom half but were unable to score as the game remained 0-0. 
 

Harding put a runner in scoring position after a single and stolen base with two outs, however Howell was able to escape any damage keeping the game locked at zero through three innings of play. 
 

The Bisons were the first to break through in the fourth inning after a double followed by a single put runners on the corner with nobody out. Howell was able to get the next three outs but an RBI groundout put Harding in front 1-0. 
 

Bryce for the Bison singled before stealing second before an RBI triple pushed the visitors out in front 2-0. Rangers were able to answer right back though in their half of the inning as Adams led off with a double before a Solberg RBI single pushed across the Rangers first run cutting the deficit in half 2-1. 
 

In the sixth inning Harding led off with back-to-back doubles to get the run back from the Rangers taking a 3-1 lead. The Bisons were able to load the bases before a sacrifice fly pushed across their fourth run of the game for a 4-1 lead at the time. 
 

Northwestern's half of the sixth Howell hit a solo home run to left center field once again cutting the deficit in half to 4-2 against Harding. The inning continued as the Rangers loaded the bases from there with one out but a lineout to second followed by a ground out was able to get Harding out of the inning still in front 4-2.
 

Vasquez pitched a scoreless seventh inning before the Rangers came to bat trying to keep the game a live. Abby DeTar singled to put the tying run at the plate but would be left there as the Rangers fell to Harding 4-2 Saturday afternoon. 
 

Northwestern will return to action on April 22nd Friday afternoon in Russellville, Arkansas taking on Arkansas Tech for a three game series.