RUSSELLVILLE,ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State Ranger Softball opened a three game series against Arkansas Tech coming off a sweep over Southwestern Tuesday. The Rangers fell in both games as Arkansas Tech edged out the Rangers 2-1 in the series opener before a seventh inning comeback scoring four runs to win 4-3 over the Rangers.
The Rangers drop to 12-13 on the season with a 4-0 Great American Conference record and a 9-10 record on the road.Â
GAME ONE:Â
Howell pitched a complete game for the Rangers with six innings allowing two runs while striking out two. Clark had the team high in two hits in the series opener.
Northwestern looked to score early in the first inning after a lead-off double by Macy Spearman to right field. Avery Clark followed with a single as the Rangers had first and third nobody out. Spearman scored as Clark attempted to steal second coming in to score for the early 1-0 lead.Â
Arkansas Tech answered back in their half of the inning as a Chavers triple to left center to start the inning was followed by an RBI sacrifice bunt to tie the game at 1-1 through the first inning.
 The Rangers had a few base runners in the second inning after two singles one by Madeline Pack and the second by Tatum Winters but the two were left on base keeping the game tied at 1-1. Arkansas Tech carried the momentum into the bottom of the second inning as Lochala followed a leadoff double with an RBI single to left field for the 2-1 lead after two innings.Â
Clark had her second hit of the game coming in the third inning but back to back fly outs ended the inning keeping the game at 2-1.Â
Arkansas Tech had an opportunity to extend the lead in the fourth inning but Howell worked around a double and a walk with a line out double play to first to Laney Anderson to escape the jam and keep the game a one run game.Â
The score remained 2-1 as neither team had a hit until the seventh inning when Ashley Low singled back up the middle with two outs but a groundout ended the game as the Rangers dropped the series opener 2-1 to Arkansas Tech.
GAME TWO:
In the second game of the afternoon the Rangers were led by Macy Spearman with two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Ireland Caro went six innings for the Rangers.Â
The Rangers had an opportunity to strike in the first inning like in game one after a walk and a single to start the inning but Arkansas Tech worked around the jam to keep the game scoreless.Â
Northwestern and Arkansas Tech got into a pitcher's duel as the two teams remained scoreless through the first four innings of the game before the Ranger's offense struck in the fifth to break the scoreless tie.Â
The inning started with Tatum Winters reaching base safely followed by an Ashley Low single before a Macy Spearman RBI single into left field scored Winters. Spearman later scored on a fielder's choice to make a 2-0 lead. Ireland Caro followed with a shutdown innings for a 2-0 lead heading into the sixth inning.Â
The game remained 2-0 before the Rangers extended the lead in the seventh inning as Spearman singled followed by a sacrifice bunt by Avery Clark. This led to a Rosemary Rivera single to right center field to give Northwestern a 3-0 lead.Â
However the Golden Suns struck in the bottom of the seventh inning when the home team had their first three batters reach on a walk and two singles. This led to an RBI single by Lochala to cut the Ranger lead to 3-1 before a walk forced in the second run. Cooney then hit the walk-off double to score two runs and give Arkansas Tech the series win and a doubleheader sweep Friday afternoon.Â
The series will conclude on Saturday with the final game of the three game series. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM in Russellville.Â
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