ARKADELPHIA, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State softball opened the weekend series against Henderson State with a doubleheader Friday afternoon. The Reddies took both games after a four run seventh inning to beat the Rangers on a walk off home run in game two.

Northwestern falls to 9-30 on the season with a 5-20 Great American Conference record as Henderson State improves to 23-19 on the season with a 11-15 conference record. 

GAME ONE: 

Rachel Sherwood led the team with a two hit performance while driving in the Rangers run. Jadyn Muns finished with a hit and a run scored. Kathryn Jones pitched a complete game allowing two earned runs while striking out one. 

Henderson State struck early in the series opener as Akers reached on an error before coming around to score on an RBI single by Copeland. 

The Northwestern offense had runners on in the first and third innings but were not able to answer as Henderson State held the 1-0 lead through the first three innings of play.

The Reddies extended the lead in the fourth inning when Copeland led off with a double in the inning before an RBI single by Denofrio hit an RBI single for the 2-0 lead.

Henderson State extended the lead again in the fifth inning after two singles and an error loaded the bases before an RBI single by Copeland followed by a Carey sacrifice fly pushed the home team to a 4-0 lead.

The Rangers scored one back in the sixth inning after a Muns two out single started the rally before a Sherwood RBI double to center field scored the Rangers first run as Muns crossed the plate. 

Henderson State closed out the win over the Rangers in the seventh inning with a perfect inning to end the game to seal the 4-1 series opening win over the Rangers.

GAME TWO:

Kaitlyn Corn, and Madeline Pack led the team with three hits each while Pack and Rosemary Rivera drove in a team high 3-RBIs. Rangers had five players each with two hits in the game. Pack and Rivera scored two runs each.

Both teams each had a hit in the opening inning before leaving runners on base as the game was tied 0-0 through the first. 

After two scoreless innings the Rangers started the scoring with a Macy Spearman solo home run for the first lead of the game at 1-0. 

The Reddies answered back after loading the bases, scoring their first run on a bases loaded walk. Holland followed with an RBI single before a second walk and a single pushed Henderson State in front 5-1. 

Northwestern tied the game fast after a four run fourth inning answering the Reddies big inning. Started with a Avery Clark single and a Corn double before a Rivera RBI single scored the second run. Pack followed with a 2-RBI double to get the Rangers back within one run. Kirby Van Haren drove in the tying run for a 5-5 game through four innings of play. 

The Ranger offense continued in the fifth inning after a one out single by Corn led to a Rivera home run to center field and a 7-5 lead for Northwestern. Pack went back to back with Rivera as the solo home run pushed the Ranger lead to three. Sherwood hit an RBI double scoring one more run but the Reddies defense ended the inning throwing out the second runner at the plate as the Rangers led 9-5 after the Northwestern half of the fifth inning. 

Henderson State answered back in the fifth inning though taking advantage of a couple of Ranger errors. After a leadoff single came around to score on a throwing error before a 2-RBI single cut the Ranger lead down to one at 9-8. 

The game stayed 9-8 into the final half inning of the game after the Reddies loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly tied the game at 9-9 before a three run home run set Henderson State home with the win 12-9 sweeping the doubleheader. 

The Rangers will close the series against the Reddies on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for noon in Arkadelphia. 

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