ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State faced Arkansas Monticello in a Friday doubleheader. The Cotton Blossoms took game one after a three run seventh inning to comeback on the Rangers. In game two the Rangers got out to a 2-0 lead before closing out the 4-1 win to split the Friday games.
The Rangers are now 7-19 on the season as Arkansas Monticello is 13-17 following the two games.
GAME ONE:
Kirby Van Haren led the team in game one with a three hit, and 2-RBI game. Rachel Sherwood and Kaitlyn Corn each added two hits. Avery Clark led the team with two runs scored. Chloe Brown pitched a complete game allowing zero earned runs, four unearned while striking out two.
Both teams pushed base runners on after a single and a walk in the top of the inning Brown pitched out of the jam getting a line out to end the inning. Rangers had two hits in the first inning from Muns, and Sherwood but a double play kept the game scoreless after the first.
The Rangers struck first in the second inning as Northwestern loaded the bases on two singles and a walk before Spearman hit a single into left field scoring Clark for the early 1-0 lead.
Northwestern was able to extend the lead in the third inning when Sherwood started the inning with a single before a Clark single had two runners on base leading to a Van Haren double to left center field scoring Clark and Pack for the 3-0 lead through three innings.
Arkansas Monticello hit a triple with one out by Martin but the Rangers worked around the jam as Brown got a pop up and ground out keeping the Rangers in front.
The sixth inning is when the Blossoms got on the board after a single to left field an error by the Rangers allowed Keaton to score and cut the deficit down to 3-1. Arkansas Monticello climbed back into the game with a single and an error put the tying run on base before a double down the left field line scored two runs tying the score. This was followed by a sacrifice fly to take a 4-3 lead over the Rangers.
Rangers had the tying run in scoring position in the seventh inning when Corn hit a single advancing to second but a strike out closed out the win for Arkansas Monticello in the opening game.
GAME TWO:
In the second game of the day Rosemary Rivera and Kirby Van Haren each had a 2-RBI game leading Northwestern to the four runs. Rangers had five different players each with one hit. Kathryn Jones pitched a complete game for the Rangers striking out five in the win allowing one run.
Arkansas Monticello, looking to carry the momentum from game one put two runners on base after a lead off single before Jones pitched a strike out and ground out to close the inning.
The Rangers struck in the bottom of the second inning for the game's first runs after a single and walk had two runners on base before the Rivera 2-RBI double to score Muns and Pack for the 2-0 lead.
The visitors had two singles in the third inning before a strike out by Jones kept the Rangers out in front 2-0.
It was the sixth inning when the Rangers extended the 2-0 lead after two straight singles to start the inning by Sherwood and Corn led to a 2-RBI double by Van Haren to give the Rangers a 4-0 lead late in the game.
Arkansas Monticello, looking to climb back into the game had a lead off single before a second single led to an RBI single by Wood scoring Hart cutting the Rangers lead down to 4-1 and putting the tying run at the plate. A walk then loaded the bases putting the tying run on base before Jones struck out the final batter of the game sealing the 4-1 win to split the doubleheader setting up the final game for the series win.
The rubber match of the series will be Saturday against Arkansas Monticello with first pitch scheduled for noon.
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