By NICK VILLALOBOS
Sports Editor
Ranger softball grabbed a 3-1 series win against Southern Nazarene over the weekend.
The Rangers softball team opened home play Saturday at the Alva Sports Complex with a double-header against the Crimson Storm.
In game one Saturday, the Rangers were unable to get any offense going against the Storm’s pitcher Kayla Wyatt and suffered a 5-0 shutout.
In game two of the double-header, the Rangers managed to shake off the loss and hang on late for the 5-4 win.
Leading the Rangers offense werer Shelby Anderson and Peyton Garrett.
Anderson went 2-for-4 at the plate with one RBI as well as pitching a complete seven innings. Garrett was not far behind Anderson as she went 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI as well.
When play began in game two, the Rangers did not wait long to get on the board as they scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
The first was by Ranger Jessica Sandoval, who came across after Anderson singled into right field. Allora Miller would record the next run after Stephanie Couser connected for the RBI double. The third run was by pinch runner Alexis Hayes, as she came across the plate after Garrett connected for a single.
After Hayes scored, the Rangers were up 3-0.
In the next inning however, the Rangers would add on their final two runs of the game.
After reaching third base off of a double and an error at second base, Ranger Lindsay Thorstenson would come across the home plate when Sandoval flied out.
Ranger Jordan Haya would come across the plate for the fifth and final run after Miller singled off an error.
The Crimson Storm was not done, however, and would begin to cut into the Rangers 5-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Southern Nazarene would add on a run in the fourth followed by another in the fifth to cut the deficit to just 5-2.
The Crimson Storm added on two more in the final inning, closing the Rangers’ lead to just one.
Northwestern would hang on and grab the 5-4 game two win.
After splitting the series at one apiece, both teams were primed and ready for a conclusion on Sunday afternoon.
In game three of the series Sunday afternoon, the Crimson Storm was able to jump out to an early 1-0 lead on the Rangers.
In the third inning, the Rangers managed to knot it up at one apiece as Garrett came across for the score following a single by Miller.
Both pitchers would lock down the game after that holding the game at 1-1, which eventually sent the game into extra innings.
In extra innings, Anderson hit a walk-off RBI single, allowing teammate Madison McGraw to score and give the Rangers the 2-1 game three win.
Upon the conclusion of game three, game four followed.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Rangers were able to jump out to an early 1-0 lead after Thorstenson doubled into center field, allowing Couser to come across for the score.
Southern Nazarene would answer in the next inning however, adding a run of their own and locking the game at 1-1.
The Rangers would have a big fifth inning as Jordan Baughman, Haya and Morgan Lewis would come across to score, ultimately sealing the game four 4-2 win and the 3-1 series win.
In game four, Rangers Taylor Watham and Sandoval would lead the way for Rangers hitting as Watham would go 2-for-3 from the plate with one RBI and Sandoval 3-for-4.
The Ranger women will be back in action at 2 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday at the Alva Sports Complex against conference opponent Ouachita Baptist.