ALVA, OKLAHOMA- Lady Rangers fell short in the doubleheader dropping two game to Arkansas Monticello to start the three game series. Northwestern fell in the opening game in extra innings as the Blossoms stole game one 3-2 in eight. The Blossoms in game two scored four in the fourth inning before sealing an 11-1 victory in five innings.
GAME ONE:
The first game began with Hannah Howell on the mound. The beginning of the game was a great opening half of the game for the Rangers going three up three down behind Howell's pitching. The only action made in the first inning offensively for Northwestern was a reach off a walk; Macy Spearman advanced to first and then reached second off a sacrifice bunt.
After a double was hit by Monticello into right field, Howell answered back with three straight strikeouts to escape the jam with no damage allowed. In the bottom of the inning two hits were completed by Rangers, both on singles hit into left field. Arkansas Monticello escaped any damage though like the Rangers holding the game at 0-0.
Our defense continued to stay strong, earning three outs consecutively. One hit was made by Northwestern into right field, but double play Monticello continued to hold the game scoreless. A great play was made defensively for the Rangers as when the Blossom runner tried stealing, as catcher Laney Anderson got the ball to shortstop throwing to third to catch the runner for the out. DeTar kept the momentum going for the Rangers hitting her first of two homers within the series, earning the first run of the game as the Rangers took a 1-0 lead.
Arkansas Monticello picked up one more hit in the firth inning but catcher Laney Anderson caught runner attempting to steal third again throwing the ball to shortstop Winters ending the inning and holding the Ranger lead. Two runs were made for the Blossoms in the top of the sixth; but an RBI by Mackenzie Adams on a single back up the middle sending home pinch-runner Lindsey McElroy. This tied the score 2-2. Howell struck out two more batters in the top of seventh. Monticello answered back issuing two strikeouts to our offense.
The game was sent into extra innings after the tie was not broken prior, the Blossoms were able to score off a sacrifice fly. The Rangers fell short in the bottom of the eighth inning as Arkansas Monticello was able to close out the victory for the win in the series opener.
GAME TWO:
Arkansas Monticello jumped out early in game two with four runs in the top of the first inning. Cox hit a two run home run to right center following a Ranger error to go up early 2-0. After a single and a walk this led to a 2-RBI double for an early 4-0 lead for the Blossoms. Two walks were issued by the Blossoms in top of the first inning, but runners were left on has the score remained 4-0.
Two hits were completed by UAM in the second inning, one being another home run pushing their lead to 5-0. However double play was made in the infield by shortstop Winters to first, who then made the throw to third allowing Abby Johnson to get the other runner on base out. With these two outs Hufford struck out the final batter of the inning in the top of the second inning. DeTar led off the second round of batting for the Rangers and she opened with a homer into left field. The following hitters at-bat went in order, leaving the score 5-1 ending the second.
One single was hit by the Blossoms in the third but both teams fell short to scoring, keeping the game at 5-1 through the third. Another run was scored off one hit by Monticello in the fourth further extending the Arkansas Monticello lead to 6-1. A few pinch hitters were brought in by the Blossoms, managing to score another run. Two more strikeouts were pitched by Hufford however, a Grand slam was hit by Monticello adding four more runs to the score, 11-1, resulting in a pitching change for the Rangers Shakyrah Gladness.
The Rangers went down in order in their half of the sixth inning as the Blossoms closed out the 11-1 victory over the Rangers completing the two game doubleheader sweep over the Rangers. The series will be concluded tomorrow with the third game of the series with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 AM.
