CLAREMORE, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State softball took the road to play Rogers State in a doubleheader, but came up short in both contests, 4-0 and 8-2.

There were three Ranger hitters to earn multiple hits in the two games this afternoon as Madi Parrott, Macy Madewell and Morgan Kirk, but only three other players recorded hits during both games.

GAME 1

Madison Garza started in the circle for the Black and Red and was electric, giving up just four hits, but unfortunately came away with the loss as two of those hits led to all four runs that ultimately took down Northwestern. She did however record 10 strikeouts on her afternoon, while only walking four batters.

The Rangers started out with a bang as junior transfer Morgan Kirk doubled to left center to start the visitors off right. She was immediately followed by Katie Bell who reached on an error by the first baseman in which Kirk advanced to third with no outs. The first out came by way of a pop out, while the second came on a caught stealing as Kirk was in a run-down and getting tagged out in the end. The visiting Rangers were unable to plate the other two left on base, contributing to the nine total left stranded throughout the game.

Both teams were held in check by the opposing pitcher for the next two innings, but Rogers State was able to break it open in the bottom of the fourth where they collected two hits and an error, leading to a four-run inning. The first run was due to a throwing error, with the second coming by way of an RBI groundout. The final two runs of the inning and the game was a two-run bomb to right center that put the hosts up four.

The Rangers weren't about to go down without a fight as the first three Northwestern batters reached base with Madewell and Parrot taking walks and a Sutton single through the left side. Unfortunately the guests were held up on a strikeout followed by a fly out to left, which turned into a double play as the Ranger runner left early on the tag-up.

That would end up being the biggest threat for the rest of the game as the Black-and-Red took the loss in the first of the twin bill, 4-0.

GAME 2

Karly Murray started game two for the Rangers, pitching all six innings, but unfortunately came away with the loss, 8-2.

For the second straight game the Rangers were able to collect five hits, but weren't able to capitalize while on base and in scoring position.

There were two Black-and-Red hitters that collected multiple hits as Madi Parrott and Macy Madewell were 2-for-2 and 2-for-3 respectively. The other player to get a hit in the contest was Morgan Kirk who was 1-for-3 in the game.

Northwestern started the scoring off in the second inning with an RBI groundout by Jada Overby, scoring Madewell, but that would be all the damage the visitors could do in the inning.

It didn't take long for the home squad to answer as a two-run shot was sent over the left field wall, making it a one-run advantage at 2-1.

Just one inning later however, the Hillcats cashed in again on their runners in scoring position, putting two more on the board on an RBI single to right, making it 4-1.

With the first homer of the year for the Black-and-Red, Madewell crushed the ball over the centerfield wall, giving the guests some life, making it a 4-2 contest. Parrot followed it up with a double, but a groundout to the shortstop ended the Ranger inning.

Unfortunately that would be the last run scored for the guests, while the home team put up four more runs to finish the game off 8-2.