BRANSON, MISSOURI - Northwestern Oklahoma State Softball finished their trip to Missouri splitting their second straight doubleheader. Rangers lost the opening game of the day 13-4, before bouncing back to win the second game 5-3 over Truman State.

The Rangers split the opening weekend trip 2-2 overall in Branson, Missouri. 

GAME ONE:
Ranger-led in hits by Kirby Van Haren with two hits. Jadyn Muns led the team with 2 RBIs in the opening game. 

Maryville got on the board first in the game taking advantage of Northwestern's errors in the first 

inning. After a walk and an error Koth singled for the 1-0 lead. Maryville pushed their lead to 4-0 after two Northwestern errors; a 2-RBI double by Corona gave Maryville the 3-0 lead. A sacrifice fly pushed the deficit for the Rangers to 4-0. 

Northwestern was able to get one run back in their half of the inning as three straight singles loaded the bases before a Rachel Sherwood RBI single. 

With one out a double and a hit by pitch setup Maryville for a double to center field scoring a run followed by a Corona single as the Rangers trailed 6-1 after three innings. Northwestern had an opportunity in the third through loading the bases but was unable to cut into the deficit.

In the fourth with the bases loaded Maryville added two more runs on an RBI walk followed by a wild pitch as the Rangers trailed 8-1. 

The Rangers cut into the deficit after two base runners, a Muns triple drove in two runs followed by a Corn single as Northwestern had cut the deficit in half.

 The Saints continued to extend the lead by answering back on the Ranger's runs with a two-run home run. This was one of two, 2-run home runs in the inning before a fielder's choice drove in the 5th run as the Rangers trailed 13-4. 

Maryville closed out the win on the Rangers in five innings as a single, and a walk came up short after a fielder's choice and a pop-up ended the game.

GAME TWO:
 

In game two of the afternoon, the Rangers were led by Jadyn Muns with three hits in the game, while Kennedi Caine drove in two runs while having two hits in the win. Chloe Brown pitched a complete seven innings only allowing one earned run. 

Truman State struck first in the game after a single and a sacrifice bunt set up their first run scoring on a Ranger error for the unearned run. 

The game remained 1-0 into the third inning when the Ranger's patient approach changed the momentum of the game. A walk and a single led to a sacrifice bunt before a walk to load the bases set up a bases-loaded walk to Rosemary Rivera to tie the game. Avery Clark sent the Rangers in front with a sacrifice fly for the 2-1 lead over Truman State. Kennedi Caine then struck a 2-RBI single to give the Rangers the 4-1 lead in the top of the third inning. 

The Bulldogs cut into the Ranger lead in the bottom of the 5th inning when Wood hit a single into center field making the game 4-2 in favor of the Rangers. 

Northwestern had three straight singles in the 6th inning to load the bases before the second bases-loaded walk gave the Rangers a run to answer and regain the three-run lead. 

Truman State answered back on Northwestern with a run to cut the lead to 5-3 after a walk led to an RBI single for Smith. 

Brown, looking for the complete game, closed out the seventh inning after a walk and got back-to-back outs on a line out followed by a ground out to close out the 5-3 victory. 

Northwestern will return to action on Friday, February 7th with a doubleheader against Fort Hays State at 10:00 AM followed by Southwestern Baptist at 12:30 in the Midwestern State tournament. 
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