MONTICELLO, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State opened a three game series against Arkansas Monticello on Saturday afternoon. The Rangers won the series opener 10-2 after a big game by Rosemary Rivera. Arkansas Monticello responded with a 9-2 win over the Rangers in game two.
After the doubleheader Rangers are now 17-24 with a 7-19 conference record.
GAME ONE:
Rosemary Rivera had a big day for the Rangers in the series opener as she went 3-3 with four runs and 6-RBIs in the win.
It started in the first inning after a Rivera walk she moved to third on a single by Howell before an RBI groundout by Anderson for the early 1-0 lead. Hannah Howell responded with a scoreless bottom of the first.
The game remained 1-0 into the third inning when Rivera hit her first home run of the game with a blast to center field for the 2-0 lead. Rangers were able to again extend the lead in the fourth inning after a hit batter and a single set up a Rivera RBI double for a 3-0 lead. This was then followed by a Rachel Sherwood double to right center field, scoring Sanchez and Rivera for a 5-0 lead through the Rangers fourth inning.
The fifth inning the Rangers started the inning with a Tatum Winter single followed by a walk. The bases were loaded when Rivera stepped up and delivered her second home run for a grand slam to left field as the Rangers went in front 9-0.
Arkansas Monticello answered back by loading the bases with nobody out. Smith then singled to center field for a 2-RBI single as the Rangers lead was cut to 9-2.
The Rangers answered back with a run as Macy Spearman had a double to right field leading to an Avery Clark RBI single through the left side giving the Rangers an eight run advantage at 10-2.
Howell pitched a scoreless sixth inning to seal the Rangers eight run victory ending the game after six innings of play taking the series opener over the Blossoms.
GAME TWO:
In the second game of the afternoon the teams were scoreless after the first inning of play as Ireland Caro opened with a scoreless frame before Arkansas Monticello scored a run on a sacrifice fly scoring the game's first run for the 1-0 lead after two innings.
Arkansas Monticello's offense exploded in the third inning after an error allowed the second run to score for a 2-0 lead before a bases loaded walk had the game at 3-0. Gardiner followed with an RBI single before another sacrifice fly had the blossoms in front 6-0 lead.
In the fourth inning Camp hit an RBI double scoring Apodaca who had a pinch hit single as Arkansas Monticello took a 7-0 lead.
Rangers offense struck in the fifth inning as Hannah Howell hit Rivera in for an RBI single as the Rangers trailed 7-1. Anderson followed with a sacrifice fly scoring Sherwood as the Rangers trailed 7-2.
The Blossoms got one back on the Rangers though in the fifth inning as a Miller RBI single pushed the score to 8-2. Arkansas Monticello added one more in the sixth inning to give the home team a 9-2 lead before closing out the win 9-2 after a scoreless seventh inning.
After the doubleheader the series is tied 1-1 with the third and final game of the road series for the Rangers with first pitch scheduled for 11:00AM.
