Alva Review-Courier -

DURANT, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers softball team continued their series against Southeastern Oklahoma State University Saturday morning.

The Rangers totaled 18 hits on the day out hitting the Savage Storm by five. Kalie Johnson continued her fantastic freshman season as she went 4-for-7 on the day with one run, one RBI, and two doubles. Alexus Bailey and Alexa Moses but had three hits on the day going 3-for-8 and 3-for-7 respectively.

Jayden Flowers and Bailee Whitener were the only other Rangers to record multiple hits. Flowers earned a hit in each game with three RBIs, two runs, and one double. Whitener, who started the second game at third, went 2-for-2 with one RBI, and one double.

Morgan Kirk, Lindsey McElroy, Taylor Russell, and Morgan La Neve earned a hit each.

Game 1

The Rangers had an offensive explosion in the top of the first inning. Johnson sent a lead-off single into left field to start the rally for Northwestern. Kirk followed with her fourth double of the series to put both runners in scoring position. Russell walked to load the bases followed closely by a three-RBI bases clearing double from Flowers.

Two more singles from Moses and McElroy allow Flowers to score, which gave the Rangers a 4-0 lead.

Southeastern followed in the bottom of the first inning with a run of their own off one hit and a sacrifice fly, which made the score 4-1 staying in the Ranger’s favor.

Northwestern’s defense and freshman pitcher Kathryn Wells worked together to hold the Savage Storm to just one run into the fourth inning.

Southeastern added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a solo home run to make the score 4-2 through four.

After sitting the Rangers down in order in the top of the fifth the Savage Storm came rushing back in their half of the inning as they scored three runs on four hits and one error.

Northwestern was unable to score another run through the last couple innings while SOSU added another insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning on another squeeze play at home which gave them a 6-4 lead.

That lead would hold through the top of the seventh which gave the Savage Storm the first game with a final score of 6-4 in seven innings.

Game 2

The second game started out similar to the first as the Rangers jump out to an early lead. The Rangers out hit the Savage Storm ten to their four.

An uneventful first inning between both teams kept the score tied at 0-0.

The Ranger bats woke up in the top of the second inning. Three straight singles from Russell, Flowers, and Moses loaded the bases for Bailee Whitener. Whitener earned a free pass and an RBI after she was hit by a pitch which gave Northwestern their first run. A throwing error from the pitcher on Abbie Detar’s hit allowed both Moses and Flowers to cross the plate which gave the Rangers a 3-0 lead.

The Savage Storm answered back in their half of the second inning. Four runs were scored on only one hit and one error. Three straight walks allowed a deep double to plate two runners, while Southeastern also took advantage of some Ranger miscues to score two more runs to give them a 4-3 lead.

Both defenses held strong through the third inning to prevent any changes in the score, which allowed SOSU to hold the lead 4-3.

A slight momentum change in the top of the fourth inning was all the Rangers needed. Back-to-back doubles from Whitener and Johnson tied up the game 4-4.

Both Northwestern and Southeasterns’ defenses showed up to play through both the fifth and sixth innings to prevent any runs from scoring keeping the score tied at 4-4.

The Rangers tried to tack on a run in the top of the seventh. Morgan La Neve earned a pinch hit double to start the inning. Two straight outs followed when Russell came up to bat who was then intentionally walked. Flowers reached on a dropped third strike which loaded the bases for Moses who sent a line drive that was barely snagged by Southeastern’s second baseman.

The Savage Storm used that momentum to take the game in dramatic fashion. Symphoni Shomo sent a triple to deep centerfield and scored on a squeeze play at home which allowed Southeastern to take the series sweep with a final score of 5-4 in seven innings.

Northwestern’s next game will be their final Great American Conference regular season match-up against Southern Nazarene University. The Ranger’s seniors will be honored during the series. First pitch is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m.