BRANSON, MO— The Northwestern Oklahoma State softball team split their final games in the Branson Lead Off Classic. The Rangers lost to McKendree University and defeated Missouri S & T.

In the first game of the doubleheader, McKendree started off hot by scoring a run in the second at-bat of the game. After that hit, both teams struggled to ignite any offense for the rest of the game. Pitcher Mae Carson rallied back after giving up the early run and did not give up a single run the rest of the game. Carson finished with five strikeouts, no errors and no earned runs. Aspen Loafman had two of the Rangers four hits of the day. The Rangers dropped game one 1-0.

Northwestern stormed back in Game two of the doubleheader by defeating Missouri S & T in dominant fashion. Game two started off similar to game one. Both teams were at a standstill. Northwestern scored the first run of the game after a Miner pitcher walked a batter while bases were loaded. Next at bat, Taygan Graham hit a hard grounder to the shortstop, who fumbled the ball and allowed another run to score. Gabby Sanchez proceeded to score after a bad pitch. Northwestern led 3-0 after the top of the third. 

The Rangers continued their onslaught into the next inning. Kaylee Madden hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth, which added to the Rangers lead. Kaitlyn Corn followed with a home run of her own in the top of the seventh. Jamie Molina hit a triple during the same inning, which allowed two more runs to score.

While the Ranger offense kept pouring on runs, the Miner offense could not keep up with Ranger pitcher Chloe Brown. Brown had three strikeouts but did not allow a single run. Brown shut out the Miners as the Rangers beat them 10-0.