Alva Review-Courier -

ALVA, Okla. – Lady Rangers lose in doubleheader against the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns during the weekend spring break series. Rangers two game win streak was snapped Friday after taking both games earlier in the week against Southwestern. Arkansas Tech used a couple of three run innings to take control of Game 2.

Highlight play of the game was a grand slam hit by Hannah Howell during the second game, earning four RBIs over she went two for four in the game.

First Game

Ireland Caro started for Northwestern on the mound with a current pitching record of 5-8, pitching 76 innings so far this season. Three outs were completed quickly, including an unassisted play made by first baseman Hannah Howell.

Action in offense started extremely early, with leadoff hitter Macy Spearman singling into left field. Abby DeTar bunted and was able to reach first on error. With two on base, four-hole Laney Anderson hit RBI down the left line. Score was 1-0 Lady Rangers at end of the first inning.

Three ground outs were made yet again by Northwestern fielders, getting movement around the bases. Outs were completed by third, shortstop, and second as the Rangers held their lead.

One hit was completed by the Ranger offense in the bottom of second by Jaci Oakley, with a double into left center but was left stranded on second as Northwestern was not able to extend their lead.

Caro completed the first out to Howell after fielding her position getting a ground ball back to herself. After pitching her first walk of the game, two more outs were made by shortstop and first fly ball into right was caught by Ashley Low to escaped further damage as the game was 1-1 after three. Northwestern picked up another hit on a single going back to the top of the order but was unable to score in their half of the inning.

Arkansas Tech continued their momentum scoring three more in the fourth to take their first lead of the game. Started with a single followed by a Ranger error before a single and a double pushed across the three runs for a 4-1 lead through four innings. Entering the fifth inning was short for both teams. One hit was allowed for each team, but no other plays offensively were able to score.

The Rangers picked up two hits in the sixth inning including a double by Howell but the Rangers were left stranded as the game remained 4-1. Final inning of the game resulted in an unearned run completed by Arkansas Tech and no runs completed by NWOSU ending with a score of 5-1 ATU. The loss snapped the two game win streak by the Rangers.

Second Game

Hannah Howell started on the mound, and led off strong with a swinging strikeout to begin the game. ATU was able to score two unearned runs, however later in the inning, two outs were achieved by pitching another strikeout and fly ball caught in left field by DeTar.

Spearman hit single into right field, getting her onto first. She was able to advance to second base with a sacrifice bunt made by Avery Clark. She advance to third after Howell grounded out to ATU's pitcher, and scored after DeTar's single into right. Right fielder had made an error which allowed her to reach to third base. Ground out was hit by Anderson ending their rall trailing 2-1.

Quick fielding possession was made by Lady Rangers as they were able to put a stop to the Golden Sun's batting. No runs or hits were allowed by the defense. Low started the Rangers half with a single but was unable to come around to score as Golden Sun pitching held the game at 2-1.

Score was 3-1 after an unearned run was scored by Arkansas Tech for the third time of the game. Fourth inning had Howell's fourth strikeout of the game followed by A line drive was hit directly to Oakley, and first baseman Anderson secured an out unassisted as well to close out the inning.

Northwestern was able to get a hit off, as Anderson singled into left center. Oakley was able to reach first on an error, putting two Lady Rangers on base. No runs were completed by the end of the inning.

Golden Suns hit single, but the next batter struck out. Second strikeout of the inning pitched by Howell was her fifth of the night 94 pitches in. Three more runs were made by Arkansas Tech though, making the score 6-1 following a double off the wall.

One out in, single to third base was hit by Spearman. Double play however sent Lady Rangers back onto the field.

Desiree Morehead

Lady Ranger Mackenzie Adams (15) scoops up a bunt and throws the ball back to first base for the out.

Allie Hufford was subbed in as a reliever for Howell on the mound, and the first two outs were made at third base and first base. Ball hit into center field ended batting possession for Arkansas Tech. Howell was up to bat at the bottom of the sixth inning, and she crushed the ball into left center, reaching second base. Three outs were made after her base hit, sending them into the final inning of the game.

Arkansas Tech's offense continued their momentum as some big hits were made by Golden Suns, getting three runs off of three hits. Score moving into the bottom of the seventh inning was 9-1. Reach to first was made on error, putting Low on base. Another error made by ATU allowed Madeline Pack reach first and Low advance to second. Bases were loaded after Winters was able to walk onto first. Looking to score, Low was out at home after a hit was made by Spearman. A grand slam was hit by Howell, scoring four runs with two outs. With a score of 9-5, the game ended on a fly ball hit into right field.

In the third and final game of the series Saturday, Arkansas Tech won 5-0.