WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State Softball closed out the Mustang Roundup with the final two games of the weekend. The Rangers started with a 10-2 win over the Mustangs behind a big final two innings combining for eight runs. Northwestern in game two fell 6-4 to Cameron University.
After the split doubleheader, the Rangers are now 3-5 on the season following the two games.
GAME ONE:
Midwestern State started the game with the first run of the morning after a single and a stolen base led to an RBI single from Ayala for the early 1-0 lead. The Rangers escaped further damage with a strikeout to end the inning.
Northwestern, looking to answer back, had a lead off double from Rachel Sherwood but were not able to tie the game as two ground outs helped Midwestern State out of the inning.
It was the third inning when the Rangers struck back after a lead-off single by Chloe Prentiss before a Kaitlyn Corn two-run home run to right field for the 2-1 Ranger lead in the third inning.
Rangers got the shutdown inning in the third with three ground outs before adding to the lead in the fourth inning. Northwestern pushed across a run on Midwestern State's error-scoring Kirby Van Haren. Rachel Sherwood then extended the Rangers' lead to 5-1 with a two-RBI single to center field.
The fifth inning was the Rangers' best, picking up six hits and scoring five runs as the Rangers had five straight hits to start the inning. Starting with a Muns single before a Van Haren triple to right field scored Muns for the 6-1 lead. Makanalei Lapera followed with an RBI double, scoring Haren for the 7-1 Ranger lead. Macy Spearman followed with the fifth hit for the RBI single. Caine drove in the ninth run with a sacrifice bunt, for the 9-1 lead before Corn singled up the middle for the 10-1 lead.
Midwestern State answered back with one run in the fifth inning after three straight singles allowed the Mustangs to score one run for the 10-2 game. Rangers closed the game out with a line out to short as Chloe Brown finished the complete game and the 10-2 victory in game one.
GAME TWO:
The first inning was scoreless between the two teams both having a base runner stranded. It was the second inning when the Aggies struck first with a lead off solo home run to right center field for the early 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning. Cameron picked up two base runners before a wild pitch allowed the second run to come in for the 2-0 lead over the Rangers. Cameron pushed across one more run on a hit batter. Rangers looking to answer got two base runners on but a strikeout ended the inning.
With the game still 3-0 the Rangers got one run back in the fifth inning as after two straight outs to start the inning a single from Rachel Sherwood and a walk by Corn started the rally for Van Haren to hit an RBI single and cut the deficit to 3-1.
Cameron though was able to answer back with three runs in the sixth inning after two straight base runners led to a fielder's choice scoring a run for the 4-1 lead. A ground out before an RBI single led to a 6-1 lead for the Aggies over the Rangers.
In the bottom of the seventh the final inning the Rangers' comeback fell short as a single and a walk led to a Rachel Sherwood 2-RBI double to center field cutting the deficit to 6-3. Van Haren singled in the next run to make it a 6-4 game. Cameron escaped further damage though with a strikeout to end the ball game holding on for the 6-4 win over the Rangers.
Northwestern is back in action on Wednesday, February 12th at Newman University with the first pitch scheduled for 2:00 PM.
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