BETHANY, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Softball completed the weekend series with Southern Nazarene, as the Crimson Storm completed the three game sweep over the Rangers Sunday afternoon. Northwestern led in both games but Southern Nazarene used a four run inning to tie the game in the first game and a nine run second inning in game two to take the sweep.
The Rangers drop to 2-7 in the Great American Conference and 10-11 overall.
GAME ONE:Â
After a scoreless first inning, the Rangers opened the scoring in the second inning as Rosemary Rivera hit a solo home run to left center field for the 1-0 Rangers lead. The inning continued as Tatum Winters came around to score for a 2-0 lead after a Crimson Storm error.
Northwestern continued to extend the lead in the third inning with Avery Clark homered to left center field for a 3-0 Rangers lead. The game remained 3-0 into the fifth inning as Hannah Howell threw four scoreless innings.Â
In the fifth the Rangers again extended the lead this time on a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Macy Spearman for the four run lead. After two straight singles an RBI double by Evans cut the lead down to 4-1. Oaks followed with a 2-RBI double to left center before an RBI single tied the game at 4-4.
Northwestern answered back in the sixth inning though as after a Pack double to right field started the inning, Ashley Low came around to score after running for Pack, on an RBI single by Avery Tittle.Â
However, Southern Nazarene hit a 2-RBI double by Evans, her second of the game scoring two runs to take their first lead of the game at 6-5 over the Rangers.Â
Northwestern had a hit in the seventh but the Crimson Storm worked around the single for the 6-5 victory in game two and took the series over the Rangers.
GAME TWO:
Macy Spearman led the game off with a single to center field and stole second before Laney Anderson drove her in on a fielder's choice for the RBI and an early 1-0 lead. After a scoreless bottom of the inning the Rangers then extended the lead in the second inning.Â
It started as Rachel Sherwood, Rosemary Rivera, and Avery Tittle all reached safely including two singles. Winters hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Sherwood for the 2-0 lead. Southern Nazarene held the Rangers to one run in that top half of the inning.Â
Southern Nazarene's offense struck in the bottom of the second inning after a 2-RBI single to center field to tie the game at two. Evans followed with a single to left center and took their first lead of the afternoon at 4-2. A 3-RBI double later in the inning pushed the lead to 7-2. The inning ended as Southern Nazarene scored nine runs on seven hits to take a 9-2 lead through two innings.
The Rangers pushed three runners on base in the third inning on a single, double and walk but were unable to score as the game stayed 9-2 into the bottom of the third inning. Southern Nazarene added three more runs in the third inning as an RBI single by Evans led to a 2-run home run to center field for the 12-2 lead. Mullendor pushed it to 13-2 following the RBI double, scoring four runs on five hits in the inning.Â
Stewart later extended the lead to 15-2 following a 2-RBI double before the Crimson Storm closed the game out with a 15-2 win in five innings over the Rangers.
Rangers will be back in action on Tuesday March 12th against Southwestern Oklahoma State with a doubleheader in Weatherford, Oklahoma.Â
