ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Softball opened a three game series with Southern Arkansas on Friday afternoon with a doubleheader. Rangers fell in game one with a final score of 4-0 after the Muleriders rallied for four runs in the 5th inning. Southern Arkansas won the second game 9-0 over the Rangers.
Northwestern is now 17-29 on the season with a 7-22 conference record, while Southern Arkansas moves to 30-14 on the season.
GAME ONE:
Laney Anderson led the team with two hits in game one of the afternoon going 2-3 in the loss.
Ireland Caro, the Ranger starter, held the Muleriders without a hit in the opening three innings as Laney Anderson had the first hit of the afternoon between the two teams with a single. McAlexander broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning with an RIB single for a 1-0 lead over the Rangers. Clausen kept inning a live following with a RBI double to left field clearing the bases for a 4-0 lead over the Rangers through four innings.
In the fourth inning with the Rangers looking to answer, Howell hit a double to left field before Laney Anderson singled to set up second and third but back to back strikeouts kept it a 4-0 through four innings.
Rangers had first and second in both the fifth and sixth innings as well after a Tatum Winters single but Southern Arkansas escaped any damage in the fifth. Back to back walks to Howell and Rosemary Rivera set up first and second but the Muleriders closed out the win taking game one over the Rangers by a final score of 4-0
GAME TWO:
The second game of the afternoon was all pitching to start the game as both teams went down in order. Southern Arkansas had two singles in the second inning but Ranger starter Hannah Howell worked around the singles to keep the game scoreless.
Rangers had a chance to score after Macy Spearman drew a walk before stealing second but the Muleriders worked around Spearman in scoring position .
THe pitching duel continued through the third inning as both teams were retired in order before Southern Arkansas broke the tie with a run in the fourth. After a single and two walks loaded the bases a hit batter sent in the game's first run for a 1-0 Mulerider lead.
Rangers tried to answer back after a lead off single from Hannah Howell before Rangers had runners on the corner but back to back pop ups kept Southern Arkansas in front 1-0.
The Muleriders extended the lead in the fifth inning after an error allowed a run in before a sacrifice fly pushed the score to 3-0. Southern Arkansas scored four more runs in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 7-0 after a single pushed a run across, a bases loaded walk and back to back singles gave the visitors the seven run lead.
A double in the ninth inning pushed it to the final score at 9-0 as Southern Arkansas swept the doubleheader to win the series.
The Rangers will close out the home portion of the schedule on Saturday morning with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 AM for senior day. The senior day ceremony will be held following the last out of the game.
