By RYAN SHUMAKER
Sports Editor
Northwestern softball experienced mixed results in three separate doubleheader contests over the last few days.
The Rangers started out the busy stretch by welcoming Henderson State University to the Alva Rec. Center and lost the series 3-1.
On the Friday afternoon, the Rangers dropped the first game 6-1 to the Reddies. The Rangers could only muster up one hit, a double by sophomore Madison McGraw in the bottom of the second inning. Starting pitcher Madison Garza struck-out eight batters over her five innings of work, but was unable to overcome the offensive absence and picked up the loss.
The offense would experience a touch more success in the second game of the afternoon, leading to a 2-1 Rangers victory. Freshman Karly Murray picked up the victory after pitching five innings and only giving up one earned run. Garza would come back on and pick up the save after closing out the ballgame.
Slugger Jordan Haya finished 1-3 at the plate for the ballgame, driving in one run and scoring another run for the Rangers. Centerfielder Peyton Garrett provided the other RBI for the Rangers as well.
The Rangers came back out on Saturday and left seven runners on base in a 6-0 loss. McGraw once again led the Rangers at the plate going 2-3. The Rangers left three runners on third base throughout the ball game.
The Rangers then welcomed rival Southwestern Oklahoma State University to Alva on Tuesday afternoon. The Rangers took the first game 8-6 behind a spectacular performance from the middle part of the Rangers line-up. The three, four and five hole from the Rangers went a combined 6-11 from the plate with six RBI’s and five runs.
The Bulldogs jumped out to 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the Rangers responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Junior Megan Sanders gave the Rangers their first lead of the game with a two-run homer in the second inning.
Another home-run from McGraw gave the Rangers a 6-2 lead heading into the third. The Bulldogs could only answer with one run in the fourth inning, and the Rangers capitalized, adding another run to their lead making it a 7-3 ball game.
Pinch hitter Caitlin Coody homered in the fifth inning, which provided the spark the Rangers needed to finish out the Bulldogs, despite a three run seventh inning for the visiting team.
The Bulldogs would come back with vengeance however and run-ruled the Rangers 10-1 in five innings in the second game of the doubleheader. McGraw continued her outstanding hitting however, going 2-3 from the plate while providing the lone RBI for the Black-and-Red.
The Rangers record sits at 11-34(8-26 GAC). They will face-off against Harding University in their final home series of the year at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on April 15, and then 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on April 16 at the Alva Rec. Complex.