By RYAN SHUMAKER
Sports Editor
The Ranger’s softball team picked up their first conference win of the season this past weekend against East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.
The Rangers kicked off road action Friday afternoon dropping both contests.
In the first game the Rangers lost 2-1, despite a stellar pitching performance from Edna, Texas native Madison Garza.
The Rangers were successful at getting the ball in play, as they only struck out three times all game, but couldn’t get on base due to the Tigers tight defense.
Sophomore Madison Mcgraw hit her first home run of the year to put the Rangers ahead in the top of the third.
The Rangers would hold the lead all the way until the bottom of the seventh when an error put the winning run on and a single drove in the Tiger for an East Central walk-off win.
The Rangers dropped the second game of the double-header, 8-3, although the Rangers finally provided some spark at the plate.
The Tigers struck first in the second inning when a passed ball allowed the runner from third to score. Enid, Oklahoma native Lacey Hudson tied the game up when she scored off of a fielder’s choice in the top of the third.
Second baseman Stephanie Couser gave the Rangers the lead in the second when she drove in sophomore Peyton Garret following the Hudson RBI. Slugger Jordan Haya drove in another run to finish out the inning.
It wouldn’t take the Tigers long to respond however, in the bottom of the third a double scored two Tigers and knotted up the game at three.
A grand slam for the Tigers in the bottom of the six would provide the necessary runs needed to down the Rangers and give the Tigers a 2-0 series lead.
Garza would get back on the mound in the first game on Saturday and wouldn’t allow an earned run as the Rangers won their first conference game of the season, 3-1.
Designated hitter Megan Sanders would provide the only RBI for the Rangers when she homered to left in the fourth inning.
Haya and Couser scored in the first inning off of Tiger errors.
The Rangers defense shined in the first game, but struggled in the second game leading to a 6-0 loss for the Rangers. Freshman Karly Murray started the game and pitched a solid game going six innings, allowing three runs, while striking out six.
Garrett provided a solid day at the plate going 2-3, but the offense the Rangers generated in their win couldn’t carry over into the afternoon game.
The Rangers will hit the road again with a double header beginning at 1 p.m. Friday and another one Saturday at 11 a.m., all against Arkansas-Monticello in Monticello, Arkansas.