WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State softball opened the 2024 season at the Midwestern State Tournament Friday afternoon with a doubleheader against Northwest Missouri St. and Fort Hays St. The Rangers split the two games with a 7-2 victory over Northwest Missouri St. following back to back three run innings and dropped game two to the Tigers 9-1.
The Rangers are 1-1 to start the season after opening the season with a split.
GAME ONE:
In the opening frame of the season Macy Spearman and the Rangers struck for an opening inning run. Spearman started it off with a single and a stolen base before a walk set up first and second. After the Bearcats looked to potentially get out of the inning after a double play, Rachel Sherwood struck for an RBI single to score Spearman.
Ireland Caro started the game in the circle working around two walks to keep the game 1-0 through one. The Bearcats capitalized though in the second inning with a first and second RBI single to even the score at 1-1.
Over the next two innings though the Rangers were able to open up a six run lead over the Bearcats. First in the third inning started with a Avery Clark double to right field before Sherwoodo hit her second RBI single for a 2-1 Ranger lead. Shyanna Stopp followed with a 2-RBI single to right field, scoring Rivera and Sherwood for a 4-1 lead.
Caro retired the side in order in the third keeping all momentum with the Rangers, as in the fourth inning the Rangers scored three more to open a 7-1 lead. Rangers got runners on the corners with nobody out. The bases were loaded with two outs before back to back walks by Rosemary Rivera and Hannah Howell pushed the score to 6-1. Stopp then was hit by a pitch to make it a 7-1 game.
Northwest Missouri St. scored one more in the sixth inning to cut it to a 7-2 game but ultimately the Rangers closed out the five run win to start the year 1-0 as Hannah Howell earned the win.
GAME TWO:
The second game Fort Hays State was able to strike first after a lead off walk. Fort Hays had the first three batters of the game reach base safely after two singles followed for an early 1-0 lead. A sacrifice fly extended their lead to 2-0 in the first as Ireland Caro worked around anymore runs as it was 2-0 after the first inning.
In the second inning the Tigers had their first two batters reach but a line-out double play helped the Rangers escape with no damage done holding the game at 2-0. In the bottom of the inning the Rangers pushed two runners on base after back to back walks followed by a Tiger error cut the Ranger deficit to one as Hannah Howell came across to score.
The game remained 2-1 into the fourth inning following a scoreless third but the Tigers struck for six runs in the fourth on five hits. The Tigers had a one out double to start their rally before a walk and single scored a run. A double pushed across one more to set up second and third before a single and a two run home run made the game 8-1 over the Rangers.
The Rangers looking to answer had two base runners after a single by Laney Anderson but the Tigers escaped the inning unharmed.
Fort Hays pushed across one more in the fifth inning for the eight run lead before retiring the Rangers in order to complete the 9-1 victory over Northwestern.
The Rangers will be back in action on Saturday morning and afternoon to close out the Midwestern State Tournament with game one at 11:00 AM against Midwestern State before closing the trip out with Cameron University at 1:15 PM.
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