ENID, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State closed out the weekend set with Harding with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The Rangers dropped both games the first by a final 8-0 and the second game with a final of 6-2. Rangers loss makes it six straight for Northwestern.
The Rangers are now 12-17 on the season overall with a 4-13 Great American Conference record.
GAME ONE:
The opening game of the day Tatum Winters and Ashley Low led the team each with one hit in the game.Â
Harding got on the board early after a leadoff walk by Macy Ham came around to score on an RBI double by Caro for the early lead. Caro came around to score on an RBI single by Cabana.Â
Winters had a hit in the inning but was later caught stealing as the Bisons led after the first.
In the second inning Harding extended their lead as after back to back singles by Fraley and Ham led to a 2-RBI double down the left field line by Cabana taking a 4-0 lead over the Rangers.Â
For the third straight inning Harding extended the lead after a leadoff single followed by a sacrifice but Blankenship came around to score on a Nunn single for the 5-0 lead.Â
After a walk and a hit batter to start the inning the Bisons pushed their lead to 8-0 after a three run home run by Curry her first of the day.Â
Alyssa Baldenegro threw a scoreless fifth inning for the Rangers to keep the game at 8-0.Â
The Rangers went in order in the fourth and fifth inning as Harding held on for the game two victory over Northwestern to earn the series win.Â
GAME TWO:
The Rangers were led in offense by Laney Anderson finished the game with two hits and a run scored. Shyanna Stopp had a hit and an RBI white Tatum Winters drove in the other run for Northwestern. Howell pitched the full seven inning allowing two earned runs in the loss.Â
Harding looked to jump out early on the Rangers after a single and a stolen base put a runner on second with nobody out but Howell worked around that with a strikeout to end the inning. Like Harding did, the Rangers stranded a runner as the game remained 0-0. Â
The Bisons struck in the second inning with a five spot as the first run came around to score on a wild pitch for the 1-0 lead. Nunn then drove in a run on an error by the Rangers before the big blast was a three run home run by Caro for a 5-0 lead for the visitors. The Rangers answered back with two runs in the bottom of the inning as Stopp earned an RBI with a bases loaded hit by pitch before a Winters ground out fielder's choice had the Rangers down 5-2.Â
Harding got one run back on an RBI sacrifice fly hit to left field by Nunn scoring Curry to extend their lead back to four at 6-2.Â
The score remained 6-2 throughout the rest of the game. Northwestern had opportunities to dive back closer in the game as from the 4th-6th innings the Rangers had a runner on base via single or walk.Â
Northwestern's best chance was in the seventh though as Stopp led off with a single followed by a Rivera walk set up first and second but after a pitching change Harding escaped with no damage allowed.Â
The Rangers will next be in action on Thursday March 28th opening a three game series against Southeastern with a doubleheader starting at Noon.Â
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