Alva Review-Courier -

ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers took two tough losses to Ouachita Baptist Friday afternoon.

The first game was all about the freshmen as three different women had a multi-hit game. Kalie Johnson lead the team in the first half of the doubleheader as she went 3-for-4 with one run, one RBI and one double. Abby Detar and Morgan La Neve both went 2-for-4, with La Neve sending her second career home run over the fence.

The upper classmen took over in the second game. Alexus Bailey had a day as she went 3-for-5 at the plate through both games, with one run and one walk. Morgan Kirk's bat was hot in the second game as she went 3-for-3 at the plate with one RBI.

Game 1

Northwestern came out swinging in the bottom of the first inning with a lead-off double down the right field line by Johnson. Detar followed with a bunt that turned into a single as she pushed it up and over the third baseman's head. The Rangers could not score any runs but would keep their bats awake throughout the game.

The Rangers held Ouachita scoreless through the first three innings. The Tigers drew first blood with a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning, but Karly Murray would answer back with a fly ball and two back-to-back strike outs to end their momentum.

The Black and Red threatened in the bottom of the fourth with a La Neve single, and then pinch runner Madeline McIntyre raced all the way around to third but could not get across the plate.

The Rangers held Ouachita to their two runs through the Tiger's fifth and the top half of the sixth inning.

In the Rangers' half of the sixth inning things started to turn as La Neve started the inning with a solo home run, tying the game up at 2-2. Bailey and pinch hitter Taylor Russell kept the inning going with a two-out rally as they hit back-to-back singles.

Johnson would follow with a single of her own while an error by the centerfielder would allow both Bailey and Lindsey McElroy, who came back in to run for herself, to score giving the Rangers their first lead of the game, 3-2.

Detar sent another single through the middle of the infield which allowed Johnson to cross the plate in beautiful fashion as she slid around the catcher's tag at home to give her team a two-run lead, 4-2.

Unfortunately, the Tigers would come storming back in the top of the seventh inning as they scored three runs on two hits, while the Rangers defense helped with two errors. The Tigers would hold the Rangers in their bottom of the seventh, giving Ouachita a tough win over Northwestern with a score of 5-4.

Game 2

The Rangers continued to battle at the plate through the second game of the doubleheader as Friest started the Black and Red scoring in the bottom of the second inning, as she hit her third home run of her career deep over left-center field. Bailey tried to keep the inning going as she followed with a single but could not get across the plate.

Ouachita answered back in the top of the third as they scored a run of their own, tying the game 1-1.

Ouachita kept their rally going through the top of the fourth as they tacked on two more runs to give them a 3-1 lead over the Rangers.

Northwestern refused to be taken down easily, as the Rangers showed in their half of the fourth inning. Bailey sent a line-drive into right field to get her team going, followed by another single as Jada Overby drove one through the middle of the infield. Bailey and Overby advanced to second and third on a passed ball to get them into scoring position.

Pinch hitter, Jayden Flowers, got her first double and third RBI on the year as she dropped a hit down the left field line, to score Bailey.

Trey Lunn

LEFT: Alexus Bailey of Northwestern tracks the deep left field ball resulting in an out for Oklahoma Baptist. RIGHT: Lady Ranger Lindsey McElroy catches a deep centerfield ball resulting in an out for Ouachita Baptist University.

The Rangers weren't done yet as Caden Cunningham also sent a pinch hit shot through the left side of the infield scoring Overby and tying the game at 3-3. Kirk continued her hot streak in the second lead-off position with her own single into center field to plate Flowers and give the Rangers a 4-3 lead.

The back-and-forth battle continued as Ouachita scored a run in the top of the fifth to knot the game with a score of 4-4.

It would all come down to the seventh inning. Ouachita jumped into action in their half of the seventh scoring two runs on one hit and one error, giving them the lead 6-4.

However, Northwestern wasn't going to go down without a fight. Kirk hit her third single of the game to lead-off the seventh inning. Johnson then moved Kirk to second on a ground-out to the shortstop. Detar kept Ranger hopes alive as she reached on an error giving the Rangers runners on first and third. Unfortunately, that's all the Black and Red could muster as they took another tough loss to Ouachita with a 6-4 final score.

Northwestern softball will continue their four-game conference series against Ouachita Baptist with their second doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.