The NWOSU softball season started on Jan. 31 against Newman University in Branson, Missouri.
The Jets had the first points of the game in the top of the first but only lead by one. The second inning went scoreless.
In the third inning, Jadyn Muns hit a single homerun to tie the game 1-1. The fourth inning was the Lady Rangers’ inning. Macy Spearman hit a single to shortstop and brought Avery Clark home to take the lead 2-1.
Muns then hit a double into left field and brought Makanalei Lapera and Kennedi Caine home to extend their lead. Kaitlyn Corn hit a sacrifice fly into right field and brought Muns and Spearman home to make it 6-1. In the sixth inning, Newman scored five runs in an attempt to get the game in their control, but the Lady Rangers were too far out for them. NWOSU won their first softball game of the year 6-5.
The next game was against the Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles. The first three innings went scoreless for the two teams. In the bottom of the fourth, the Golden Eagles scored the first run of the game to take the lead. In the fifth inning, Jadyn Muns hit a single to second base and Kennedi Caine went home to tie the game. In the bottom of the seventh and final inning, the Golden Eagles scored a walkoff run to win the game 1-2.
The Lady Rangers faced off against the Maryville Saints. The first inning went well for the Saints and they scored a run to take the lead in the opening square.
They continued that momentum and scored three in the next inning. NWOSU scored their first points against Maryville in the bottom of the second with a single by Rachel Sherwood to bring Kennedi Caine home and make their score one.
Maryville kept the scoring going and scored two in the third inning and two in the fourth.
The Lady Rangers got to scoring in the bottom of the fourth and scored three points with a triple from Jadyn Muns to bring Macy Spearman and Sherwood home, and a single from Kaitlyn Corn to bring Muns in to make it 8-4. The Saints scored five in the fifth inning and that put the mercy rule into effect and the game ended 13-4.
The Lady Rangers’ final game in Branson was against the Truman University Bulldogs.
The first inning started with a Bulldog lead by one point. The second inning was scoreless for both teams.
In the top of the third, the Lady Rangers scored four points as Rosemary Rivera was walked as the bases were loaded, Avery Clark hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring Jadyn Muns home, and Kennedi Caine hit a single to center field and brought Rivera and Kaitlyn Corn home to make the score 1-4The Bulldogs scored one in the fifth inning and shrunk the Lady Rangers’ lead to two.
In the sixth inning, Kaitlyn Corn was walked with the bases loaded and made the score 5-2. The Bulldogs scored one more point but failed to catch the Lady Rangers.
The NWOSU Softball leaves Branson, Missouri 2-2. in their overall record.
They will be going to Wichita Falls, Texas next to play agasint four more opponents.
