RUSSELLVILLE, ARK - Northwestern Softball closed out their three game series with Arkansas Tech Saturday afternoon as the Rangers dropped both games. Arkansas Tech jumped out early in game one before closing a 4-0 win. The Golden Suns went on to win game two of the day as well with a 5-0 win.

GAME ONE: 

The first inning the Rangers went down in order before Scoggin escaped a bases loaded jam holding the Golden Suns to leaving three runners on base. The second inning Jayden Solberg reached base on a walk but was left on base. 

Arkansas Tech responded with a run in the bottom half of the second inning following back-to-back walks before a Riley single back up the middle pushed across the game's first run of the day. Each team was retired in order in the third inning as Scoggin forced three straight fly outs in the bottom half of the inning. 

In the fourth inning the Golden Suns were able to take advantage of a couple Ranger miscues as a walk followed by a muffed throw for an error had second and third nobody out. A single by Riley pushed across run number two of the game. Northwestern escaped further damage after two straight fly outs. 

Northwestern went down in order in the fifth and sixth before the Golden Suns scored two more in their half of the sixth inning to take a 4-0 lead. Williams led off with a walk before a single and a wild pitch had runners on second and third. This led to a Wells single back up the middle scoring both runners for four run lead. 

The seventh inning Arkansas Tech retired Northwestern in order as Buffington completed the shutout and no hitter for the Golden Suns to take the game two series win over the Rangers. 

GAME TWO: 

Northwestern went down in order to start game three before Hannah Howell worked around a one out double by getting a fly out followed by a line out. In the second inning the Rangers had three straight groundouts. 

The Golden Suns offense broke through in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff walk followed by a two-run home run by Williams to left field to take a 2-0 lead. Crutchfield walked with two outs before Chavers doubled to left field, scoring the third run of the inning. 

In the third inning Jill Bouse singled back up the middle to center field for the Rangers first base runner of the game. Abby DeTar later singled in the inning but the Golden Sun defense escaped by through Bouse out at the plate to end the inning. Arkansas Tech held the 3-0 lead through three innings over the Rangers.

Arkansas Tech's offense extended their lead in the fourth inning after the Rangers were retired in order. Keaton reached base on an error before scoring on a single by Crutchfield.  

The Golden Suns looked to extend the lead once more in the fifth as a Mayberry double followed by a Goins walk had first and second but the Rangers later escaped the inning with no runs allowed leaving two Golden Suns on base. 

Williams hit a solo home run to left field in the sixth inning to push their lead to 5-0 over the Rangers. In the seventh inning Howell hit a single through the right side but the Rangers were unable to push across a run. Arkansas Tech closed out the 5-0 victory to complete the win and sweep over Northwestern.

The Rangers will return to play on Friday the 29th against Southern Arkansas to open a three game series. Northwestern will then play a doubleheader Saturday afternoon while celebrating senior day.