WICHITA, FALLS TEXAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State softball is in the Mustang Roundup for the weekend tournament hosted by Midwestern State. The Rangers opened the tournament with a game against Fort Hays State falling 3-2 and Southwest Baptist by a final score of 3-2. 

The Rangers fell to 2-4 on the season following the two losses.

GAME ONE:  

The Rangers finished the game with four hits led by a Rachel Sherwood two-run home run. Kennedi Caine scored the other Rangers run. Chloe Brown led the Rangers in the circle with seven strikeouts in the game. 

In the early part of the game, the pitching controlled the game as neither pitcher allowed a hit in the first two innings Brown struck out the side in the second inning. Rangers had two base runners in the second inning but were unable to score. 

Makanalei Lapera had the Rangers' first hit of the game with a leadoff triple in the inning but a pop-up, groundout and strike out, kept the game scoreless. Fort Hay State loaded the bases in the third but Brown escaped the jam without allowing a run. 

The Rangers broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning as Rachel Sherwood hit a two-run home run to right field, scoring Caine for the 2-0 lead. 

Fort Hays State got one run back in the fourth inning after getting a leadoff walk and a single leading to an RBI single for the 2-1 Ranger lead. Rangers escaped the rest of the inning with the 2-1 lead.  

In the fifth inning, Fort Hays State stole the lead after a leadoff single led to a Johns 2-run home run for the 3-2 lead over the Rangers. 

The Rangers were retired in order in the 6th and 7th innings as Fort Hays State held on for the 3-2 win over Northwestern. 

GAME TWO:

In the second game of the afternoon, the Rangers were led by Kennedi Caine finishing with two hits and an RBI. Jadyn Muns finished with two hits and an RBI both tied for the team highs. 

Northwestern looked to strike first in the game hitting two singles in the inning but on the second single the inning ended with a play at third for the last out. In the second inning, Southwest Baptist struck first with back-to-back singles leading to a three-run home run to left center for the three-run lead. 

Rangers were able to answer back in the third with one run after a leadoff single from Avery Clark set up an RBI double by Caine to right center as the Rangers trailed 3-1. Rangers responded defensively with a perfect 1-2-3 inning. 

The game continued to be a pitcher's duel as the two teams traded zeros per inning. Rangers had a hit in the fourth and fifth innings but were unable to draw closer.

It was the sixth inning when the Rangers pushed across the second run of the game. It started with a two-out double by Rivera before an RBI single to left field from Muns cut the Ranger deficit down to one at 3-2. 

Southwest Baptist closed out a win over the Rangers in the seventh inning. Rangers had one hit in the inning having the tying run on base but Southwest Baptist escaped with no runs allowed. 

Northwestern will return to action on Saturday morning with a scheduled first pitch time of 10:00 AM against Midwestern State. Game two of the day will be against Cameron University scheduled for 3:00 PM