By RYAN SHUMAKER
Sports Editor
The Northwestern softball team was swept over the weekend by Harding University despite some strong individual performances from the Rangers.
Sophomore Madison McGraw, senior Jordan Haya, and junior Amber Mills all had strong performances at the plate throughout the weekend. However, the Rangers dropped all four games to the Bison, as none of the Black-and-Red’s pitching staff could find consistency over the weekend.
In the first game of the series, the Bison opened the game up in the fourth inning and cruised to a 10-4 victory. Mills went 2-4 with two RBI’s from the lead-off position in the order, while McGraw produced three hits from her clean-up role in the line up.
Sophomore Madison Garza started in the circle for the Rangers, but only lasted three innings while allowing six earned runs.
Three other Rangers would come on in relief, but none could find the formula to slow down the Bison offense. The pitching struggles for the Ranger hurlers would continue into the afternoon game.
Despite all but one Ranger recording a hit on the afternoon, the Bison would once again defeat the Rangers in a high-scoring contest, 15-7. The major highlight for the Rangers would come in the top of the sixth inning when Mills, designated hitter Megan Sanders and shortstop Jordan Haya would record back-to-back-to-back home runs.
The damage was already down however, as the three homers for the Rangers only narrowed the lead to 14-7. Freshman Karly Murray got the start for the Rangers and threw three innings before being relieved by junior Erin Norrie.
The Rangers showed great plate discipline throughout the ball game, striking out only three times total as a team. That discipline would not show up the next morning however, as the Rangers were shut out by the Bison, 7-0.
Mills, Haya, and designated hitter Alexis Hayes were the only Rangers to record a hit in the ball game. After Garza started off the contest in the circle, Junior Brittany Olender and Norrie would come on to finish out the remaining three innings without giving up a run.
The Bison kept up the impressive softball and finished off the sweep during the afternoon game of the double header, defeating the Black-and-Red, 12-2. McGraw would get back on track and provided the two RBI’s for the Rangers in the form of a fourth inning homerun.
Olender, Garza, Norrie and Murray would all see time in the circle for the Rangers, but none of them could find a way to slow down the Harding offense. Olender was credited with the loss after giving up the first six earned runs.
Softball will hit the road and travel to Russellville, Arkansas where they will square off against Great American Conference foe Arkansas Tech in a four game series beginning at 3 p.m. Friday afternoon.