PIEDMONT, Okla. – After opening the series with a win, the Henderson State softball program would fall in both of Saturday's games as Northwestern Oklahoma State clinched the series 2-1. HSU (7-8) returns home for a midweek doubleheader against Christian Brothers on Tuesday, Feb. 27, starting at 2 p.m. from Dee White Field.
GAME ONE NWOSU 10, HSU 6
Henderson State struck first in the top of the first inning after
Lily Warren led off the frame with a single and soon crossed home plate on an RBI single by
Jorika Alvarez. From there, NWOSU took control in the bottom of the third, scoring six runs on four hits to take a 6-1 lead.
The Reddies replied the following inning with a five-run frame to make it 6-all. A single and an error by NWOSU saw HSU's first two batters reach safely. Henderson's first run came from a passed ball and would plate a second on a single by
Justine Burch to center field, 6-3.
Macy Hoskins batted in the next run on a double, and a single down the left-field line by
Brooke Johnson would plate the final two runs of the inning, 6-6.
Northwestern added two more runs on three hits in the bottom half of the fourth to go back in front 8-6. HSU threatened in the fifth with runners on first and second with no outs but could not advance them further before the inning ended on the third out. The Lady Rangers added two more runs in the fifth and sixth to stretch their advantage to 10-6.
Warren led the team with three hits on five plate appearances with two runs scored, while Johnson went 2-4 with a pair of runs batted in. Starting pitcher
Meagan Allen went 2.0 innings and allowed three runs on three hits before
Katelyn McMahan came in for relief in the final 4.0 frames.
GAME TWO NWOSU 4, HSU 2
Starting pitcher
Makenna Keeton was quickly put under pressure by the Lady Rangers' bats in the bottom of the first as NWOSU began the inning with a leadoff double. Just two batters later, Northwestern plated the runner on second to take a 1-0 lead before the final two outs of the frame came. Both sets of bats were kept in check in the second, and the Reddies would be retired in order in the top of the third.
NWOSU threatened again in the bottom half of the third, with its first two batters reaching on singles. A groundout would plate the first run before a triple by the Lady Rangers to right center scored the second run to make it 3-0. The Reddies replied in the top of the fourth, scoring two runs to pull within one, 3-2. Back-to-back walks by Johnson and Jackson would reach the two scoring runners as
Jorika Alvarez batted in the pair on a single to right field.
Northwestern added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to stretch its advantage to 4-2. After going down in order at the top of the sixth, Henderson pulled a run back on a sacrifice fly from McMahan in the top of the seventh but was unable to add to the score before the final out of the game came, as they fell 4-3.
