MAGNOLIA, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State Softball opened the three-game series with Southern Arkansas on Friday afternoon. The Muleriders used a five-run inning in game one to close out an 8-0 win before a 3-2 extra inning win over the Rangers.

Northwestern falls to 6-15 on the season with a 3-10 conference record, while Southern Arkansas improves to 22-5.

GAME ONE:

In the series opening game, the Rangers had a hit each from Macy Spearman, Rachel Sherwood, and Rosemary Rivera.

Both teams threw a perfect first inning as the game was locked at 0-0. The game's first run occurred in the second inning when Adams singled to right field, before an RBI single by Huey pushed the Muleriders in front 1-0.

In the third inning, Southern Arkansas extended the lead on a lead off solo home run to right center field for the 2-0 lead.

Rangers got the first hit in the fifth inning on singles by Sherwood and Rivera, but Southern Arkansas worked around the jam, keeping it 2-0.

The fifth inning was Southern Arkansas's big inning when the home team scratched out five runs to take a 7-0 lead. After a single and a walk led to an RBI single by Lear, a hitter after was a bases-clearing two-run triple. After a walk led to a 2-RBI double to right center field for the seven-run lead.

Southern Arkansas closed out the win in the sixth inning with a solo home run by Stoddard to lead off the inning and close out the eight-run win in six innings.

GAME TWO:

The first inning Macy Spearman trying to start things early for the Rangers after a single then a stolen base had her in scoring position, but a pop up ended the innings. After a scoreless first inning for Southern Arkansas the Rangers struck first in the bottom of the inning.

It was a lead off double for Avery Clark before a two-run home run to left field by Madeline Pack for the 2-0 Ranger lead. Southern Arkansas, looking to answer back, had two runners on base, but Ranger starter Cason worked around the jam and kept the Ranger lead.

The third inning is when the Muleriders struck to come back to even the score. It was a one-out single back up the middle, which led to a two run home run for the home team to tie the game at 2-2.

Chloe Brown entered the game in the fourth inning, working around a bases loaded jam ending the Southern Arkansas scoring opportunity in the fourth and keeping the game locked at 2-2.

In the sixth inning the Ranger defense forced the Muleriders into a double play as the game remained 2-2.

Each team had a hit in the seventh inning, but after the teams worked around the hits, the game remained 2-2 after seven innings and went into extra innings. The Rangers had a hit in the eighth inning but were not able to score. Southern Arkansas walked off with a win after a walk and a single led to an RBI single by Rubio to win the the game at 3-2

Northwestern closes out the three-game series with Southern Arkansas on Saturday with a noon first pitch against the Muleriders. 

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