ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Ranger softball played a doubleheader for the home opener and conference opener against Arkansas Tech. The Rangers played to a split doubleheader after a 12-5 victory after a six run inning helped storm a comeback. In game two the Rangers comeback bid fell short with a 13-11 loss.

Northwestern Oklahoma State is now 4-6 on the season with a 1-1 Great American Conference record, as Arkansa Tech moves to 9-8 on the year with a 1-1 conference mark. 

GAME ONE:
Northwestern Oklahoma State won the opening game of the day behind a two hit and 3-RBI performance by Kaitlyn Corn also scoring two runs. Rosemary Rivera led the team with 4-RBI games. Jadyn Muns, Rivera, Corn, and Avery Clark all had two hits in the game. 

Kathryn Jones threw a complete game for the Rangers striking out five Arkansa Tech hitters and earning the victory. 

Arkansas Tech struck first in their half of the game as Wilheim drove in the game's first run with a sacrifice fly to left field for the 1-0 lead. Gorniak walked in a second run picking up the RBI and an early 2-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the inning the Rangers answered back in their half after Spearman reached base before a Corn 2-run home run to tie the game for the 2-2 game.

The game stayed 2-2 into the fourth inning when Arkansas Tech regained the lead on a leadoff double before later in the inning hitting an RBI single from Ward for the 3-2 lead over Northwestern. Rangers went down in order in the home half of the inning.

Arkansas Tech scored two runs in the fifth inning for the 5-2 lead over the Rangers after two runs scored on a Winkfield triple.  

Northwestern's offense struck for six runs in the fourth inning for the biggest inning of the afternoon. The Rangers loaded the bases before Caine was hit by a pitch scoring a run followed by a Corn and Sherwood walk as the Rangers tied the game 5-5. Northwestern took their first lead on an RBI from Kirby Van Haren for the 6-5 lead. Rivera drove in two runs with a single few hitters later, as the Rangers led 8-5 after five innings.

After a scoreless sixth inning thrown by Jones the Rangers added four more runs in the sixth inning. It started with a Caine single back up the middle before she came around to score on an RBI single by Avery Clark. Kirby Van Haren followed with an RIB single pushing the lead to 10-5. Rivera hit in the last two runs of the game with a 2-RBI single for the 12-5 lead. 

Kathryn Jones closed out the complete game with a perfect seventh inning finishing the game with five strikeouts and earning her second win of the season as the Rangers won 12-5.

GAME TWO: 

In the second game of the afternoon Avery Clark led the way for the Rangers with three hits, driving in three runs. Kirby Van Haren and Makanelei Lapera each drove in two runs.

Madelyn Cason threw five scoreless innings for the Rangers striking out six Golden Suns. 

Arkansas Tech jumped out to 7-0 lead after a big first inning after a leadoff double came around to score for the game's first run. Arkansas Tech later hit a grand slam emptying the bases and giving the visitors a 5-0 lead over the Rangers. Back to back doubles followed by an RBI single was the 7-0 lead. 

Rangers were able to get two runs back in the home half of the inning after putting the first two runners on base. Rachel Sherwood hit a sacrifice fly, followed by a Clark RBI single, as the Rangers trailed 7-2 after the first. 

Arkansas Tech struck for six runs then in the second inning extending their lead to 13-2. Northwestern put a runner in scoring position after a double to right center but Arkansas Tech worked around it keeping it 13-2. 

In the third inning the Rangers struck for two runs after back to back singles, leading to a 2-RBI double by Van Haren. The Rangers trailed 13-4 after three innings of play. 

Arkansas Tech had a chance to extend the lead, loading the bases before a strike out closed out the inning. The Rangers added a run chipping into the deficit as the Rangers trailed 13-5. Arkansas Tech for the second straight inning but the Rangers worked around the jam as Cason got a ground out to end the inning.

The Rangers scored three more runs in the home half of the fifth inning with a run off an error at 13-6 before a two-RBI double by Lapera scored Rivera and Muns as the Rangers trailed 13-8. 

Northwestern got within two runs in the sixth inning as Avery Clark drove in two runs with a 2-RBI single to left center field for a 13-10 game. Muns added one more run with an RBI double for a 13-11 game. 

Arkansas Tech closed out the victory with a perfect seventh inning as the Rangers lost 13-11 in game two splitting the doubleheader. 

The final game of the series is Sunday morning against Arkansas Tech for game three of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM. 

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