ALVA, OKLAHOMA- Lady Rangers were able to clinch their first conference series win 2-1 after an outstanding win in game three by a final score of 12-4. The Rangers bounced back in the final game of the seires after dropping game one of the afternoon by a final 8-2.

The first game in today's doubleheader was a slow start for Northwestern, only scoring two runs in the third inning versus ECU's scoring streak in the first five innings as the road team was able to get at least one run in each inning to start. Ireland Caro started in the circle for the Lady Rangers. They secured two quick outs at shortstop and in the outfield before the visitors began getting hits. A single up the middle led to a 2-RBI home run immediately making the score 2-0 on Northwestern. 

Lady Rangers tried to answer back but went in order to start the game. Three hits in top of the second by the Lady Tigers resulted in an unearned run putting them in front 3-0 on the scoreboard. A double play made by Jaci Oakley on a line drive to second base before throwing to Mackenzie Adams at first ended their at bat. A scoreless bottom half of the inning was made again by NWOSU, attempting to get a hit off but fell short.

Another unearned run was scored by East Central in the third inning off a double.The only two runs of the game scored by Northwestern were made in the third inning, beginning with Tatum Winters double into the left center gap. Macy Spearman reaches base off a single to right field and Avery Clark sent Winters home with a hit. Howell had an RBI on a sacrifice fly to right field to trail 4-2 against the Tigers.

East Central had the answer though scoring two more runs were scored off of two hits by Lady Tigers due to sacrifice fly, just after Caro pitched her second strikeout on the mound. Besides one walk by Abby DeTar, the fourth inning went in order after the walk to keep the Rangers at two runs. Allie Hufford entered the game in the fifth inning relieving Caro in the circle. The Tigers were able to get two more runs to maek the score 8-2.Two singles hit by Northwestern is the only base action seen for the team leading into the sixth inning. Hufford struck out her first batter in the field and picked off the third out to first right after. The reminder of game one went in order for both teams. East Central evened the series at one game each after closing out the 8-2 win over the Rangers.

GAME TWO:

Game two began with Howell back on the mound like the first game of the series she started. Howell got her first strikeout of the game at the second batter of the game and the other two outs were madeon a flyout and a groundout. Clark got on base with a one out single before Howell hit homer straight past left center adding two to the board for the Rangers. A third hit was completed by Adams within the first inning. A single hit was made by East Central but fell short of advancing past first base as the Rangers continued to lead 2-0.

Tatum Winters had struck out but yet was able to reach first off wild pitch, and Oakley sent them both home for a two run home run for 2-RBIs on a homer to left field. This provoked a pitching change the Tigers but they had no answer for the Ranger offense as Clark hit a 2-run home run for 2-RBIs as well scoring Spearman. Adam reached on the second error of the game made by ECU and Howell was able to score an unearned run after being walked. These five hits sent them up seven on the visitors.

An error committed by NWOSU still led to no runs or hits in the third. The second pitching change for East Central was made in the bottom half of the inning, and Northwestern put two more runs up off of three hits. Oakley reached on a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Restarting the batting lineup, Spearman brought Jaci home off a single. She would steal second base before an RBI double by Clark.

Lady Tigers scored their first run unearned off of the two errors performed by Northwestern in the top of the fourth. However Howell still managed to strikeout two of the four batters. Two line drive outs made by Lady Rangers was no match for the bottom half of the batting lineup, as pinch hitters Ariana Potter and Lindsey McElroy both got two single base-hits. Bases were loaded after Winters hit through the left side and Oakley was quick to hit in two more runs for an 11-1 Ranger lead.

At 11-1, East Central tried to fight back scoring three runs off of four hits, the most they completed within the duration of the third game. Game ended in the bottom of the fifth as a result of a run-rule after Howell batted in pinch-runner Brooklyn LaChappa securing the series win for the Rangers

The Lady Rangers host rival Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs this upcoming Tuesday, April 11th at home. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM that afternoon.