The Northwestern Oklahoma State University softball team fell in its two games in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament played at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City on Friday, May 2 and Saturday May 3. The Rangers were defeated 7-3 by Rogers State in the opener at 10 a.m. and were later downed by USAO, 10-8, after a walk-off home run in the ninth inning.

Rogers State got off to a hot start in the opener, scoring four runs in the first inning and a single run in the second inning, to take a 5-0 lead.

Northwestern’s first run came in the bottom of the second, when Tanya Parker homered. The Rangers came within two runs, trailing 5-3, after scoring a pair of runs on Jeana Hancock’s two-RBI single to center field.

The Hillcats pushed across two more runs in the top of the fourth and held NWOSU scoreless through the remaining four innings.

Becky Holland pitched 6.1 innings, giving up 11 hits and six earned runs. She struck out one, while issuing a walk in 33 batters faced. Holland was relieved by Whitney Herrmann, who threw to five batters in the final two-thirds of an inning.

Northwestern was out hit 12-6, with Parker being the only Ranger with a multi-hit game. Parker was 2-for-3 with her second home run of the season, while four other Rangers had hits.

Game two was a nine inning affair with 36 hits, after both teams were tied 8-8 after regulation.

Both teams traded runs in the first and second innings to tie the contest at 2-2 after two complete innings. Northwestern held a 5-2 edge after Hancock singled in a run and Kati Jo Gabaldon hit a two-run blast to extend the lead.

The Rangers added another three runs in the sixth inning on Hancock’s team-leading 11^th home run of the season to jump to an 8-2 lead.

USAO picked up three runs in the sixth and seventh innings on nine hits, forcing extra innings.

Without playing the International Tie Breaker, both teams came out unscathed in the eighth inning.

Janette Galindo led of the Ranger ninth with a double, but Northwestern was put to rest after the next three batters went down in order.

The Drovers led their half of the ninth off with a single, and then moved the runner to second on a sacrifice bunt. USAO’s Cattlyn Crotty came up next with a walk-off home run to send the Rangers home.

Galindo was a perfect 5-for-5, while Hancock was 4-for-5 with two runs scored and five runs batted in as the Rangers garnered 20 hits. Amber Cardona and Gabaldon both had three hits.

Holland fanned two in 6.2 innings of work, before Tarwater pitched the last inning and two-thirds.

Four individual and 12 team records were either broken or tied this past season. Kopacek led the Rangers with a .415 average, while Hancock wasn’t far behind, hitting .413, while both broke the previous record of .358 set in 2004 by Falynn Burns. Hancock tied the RBI record with 47 runs batted in and broke the home run record with 11. Three Rangers set a new record for base on balls with 22, including: Hancock, Gabaldon and Parker.

The Rangers tied the team record for most doubles in a season with 68 and broke 11 other records including: batting average (.320), runs scored (278), RBI’s (240), home runs (27), total bases (617), slugging percentage (.461), base on balls (133), on base percentage (.383), sacrifice flys (13), assists (529) and errors (97).  

Northwestern finished the season with a 31-19 overall record and was 14-12 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Ten starters will return for next season, including eight position starters and one pitcher.

The Ranger softball team will open the 2008 Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 2 at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City against the Hillcats of Rogers State University.

Northwestern holds a 2-0 advantage over Rogers State, sweeping the Hillcats 1-0 and 8-7 in Claremore on April 25. The Rangers finished the regular season in fourth place in the SAC with a 31-17 overall record and at a 14-12 conference mark. Rogers State has the same 14-12 conference record and is 40-15 on the season. The Hillcats were ranked 15^th in the NAIA in the last poll.

Whether the Rangers win or lose, they will play either the winner or loser of the Oklahoma City/USAO game at 2 p.m.   

Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, noon, field 2
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, noon, stadium field
Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11, 2 p.m., field 2
Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, 6 p.m., championship, stadium field
Game 15: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, 8 p.m., if necessary, stadium field

ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State Ranger softball team came up with two huge, extra-inning wins over Oklahoma Christian to take the fourth seed in the upcoming SAC Tournament. The Rangers snuck by the Eagles 6-5 in both games, with the first game going eight innings and the nightcap lasting nine.

Northwestern opened up game one with a 2-0 lead after Jeana Hancock slugged her ninth home run of the season, scoring Therese Beeler, who was awarded a free pass to start the inning.

Oklahoma Christian closed the gap with a run in the third inning, but not before the Rangers tacked on a solo run in the fourth and two in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead.

The Eagles got four runs on five hits in the sixth inning to knot the game at 5-5 and force extra innings.

Whitney Herrmann, who was in relief of starter Becky Holland, closed the door on OC in the eighth. After issuing a leadoff walk, Herrmann got the next two batters to fly out and followed that with a groundout to blank Oklahoma Christian.

Northwestern’s Brittany Allison was placed on second to start the bottom of the eighth. She advanced to third on Amber Cardona’s fielder’s choice and scored in the same play on an errant throw by the first baseman to take walk off victory.

Herrmann improved to 11-10 on the year after 1.2 innings of relief. She fanned one batter and allowed two hits. Holland, who started the game, went 6.1 innings, allowing seven hits, five runs and struck out two.

Kati Jo Gabaldon, Tanya Parker and Hancock all recorded two hits each, as Vasquez had a double, Gabaldon tripled and Hancock homered.

The second game of the doubleheader ended in the same score, but this time with the Eagles jumping out to the lead.

Oklahoma Christian scored a run in the top of the third to hold a 1-0 initial lead. That lead was erased when Hancock hit her 10^th long ball of the season, this time to right center field, giving NWOSU a 2-1 lead. The Rangers upped the lead to 3-1 Janette Galindo singled in Gabaldon, who reached earlier via an error.

The Eagles responded in the sixth with a RBI double and a RBI single, knotting the game at 3-3 through regulation, after neither team was able to score in the seventh.

OC led the eighth off scoring its runner after a sacrifice bunt and a RBI groudout. The Rangers used the same strategy, moving the runner to third with a sacrifice bunt. Galindo plated Vasquez with a single through the right side. After a walk to Tanya Parker, the Rangers weren’t able to push in a run with one out and the bases loaded, forcing a ninth inning.

The Rangers’ weren’t to be outdone in the ninth inning. After Oklahoma Christian scored a run in the top of the inning, Northwestern came through with two runs to clinch the game. Amber Cardona was placed on second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After Beeler’s single up the middle, holding Cardona at third, Beeler stole second to put runners at second and third. Jackie Kopacek came through with a huge triple, her seventh of the season, just inside the left field line, scoring both Cardona and Beeler to again take a second consecutive walk off win over the Eagles.

Becky Holland faced 40 batters in the complete game win. She gave up two earned runs, nine hits and struck out one batter.

Offensively, Kopacek and Galindo both turned in two-hit performances, while the Rangers totaled seven hits.

Northwestern finished 31-17 overall and 14-12 in the SAC during regular season play. The Rangers will begin SAC Tournament play at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City on Friday, May 2 and finish on Saturday, May 3. Dates and times will be released at a later date.

Becky Holland

Northwestern Oklahoma State University senior pitcher Becky Holland was named the Sooner Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week for April 21-27. Holland becomes Northwestern’s third different softball athlete to receive the honor this season. Kati Jo Gabaldon and Jeana Hancock received Player of the Week honors earlier in the season.

Holland, from Sublette, Kan., allowed one earned run over 16 innings on her way to a 3-0 record for the week. She posted wins over Oklahoma Baptist and took two victories from Rogers State. For the week, Holland fanned eight batters and had a 0.37 earned run average.

Holland currently leads the Ranger pitching staff with 14-5 record and has thrown 141.2 innings in 29 appearances. She has struck out 55 batters and recorded 17 complete games and four shutouts.

Northwestern (29-17, 12-12) hosts Oklahoma Christian in the regular season finale for a 4 p.m. doubleheader at the Alva Recreation Complex on Tuesday, April 29. The Rangers will then enter the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament played at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City on May 2 and 3.

Janette Galindo was 3-for-4 with seven RBI's against Benedictine (Kan.).

ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State’s softball team had no trouble dispensing of Benedictine (Kan.) College, coming away victorious in two run-rule victories, 8-0 and 10-2, at the Alva Recreational Complex on Monday, April 28. The Rangers improved to 29-17 on the season with the two wins.

Becky Holland advanced to 14-5 on the season as she threw her 17^th complete game in the 55 minute opener. Holland fanned two batters and allowed only two singles.

Northwestern scored a pair of runs in the first inning and four runs in the third inning, two on Janette Galindo’s two-RBI single, to go up 6-0. The Rangers forced the run-rule by scoring a single run in both the fourth and fifth innings.

Five Ranger had two hits, including: Jackie Kopacek, Natalie Vasquez, Kati Jo Gabaldon, Brittany Allison and Galindo. Galindo had three runs batted in, while Jackie Kopacek hit her fifth triple of the season.

Benedictine scored a run in the opening inning of the nightcap and took a 2-0 lead with another run in the third inning.

Northwestern put up four runs in the third inning as Jeana Hancock singled to left field to plate Therese Beeler and Galindo drove in three runs on base clearing double to left center, putting NWOSU ahead 4-2.

The Rangers struck again in the fourth after Amber Cardona led off with a triple and was knocked in on Kopacek’s RBI groundout.

Northwestern scored five runs on three hits, in the bottom of the fifth, forcing the game to a halt, due to the eight-run run-rule.

Eight of the nine player had a hit as the Rangers finished with eight hits. Kopacek and Galindo had four RBI’s each.

Renea Tarwater started the game in the circle and went 2.2 innings, before giving the ball to Whitney Herrmann. Herrmann threw the remaining 2.1 innings and received the win, giving up just a hit and striking out one batter to even her record to 10-10.     

The Ranger softball team (29-17, 12-12) will play their final home doubleheader and last regular season game against SAC foe Oklahoma Christian (28-21, 10-12) at 4 p.m. at the Alva Rec. Complex on Tuesday, April 29.

Amber Cardona steps in to hit.

CLAREMORE, Okla. – In their first ever meeting, Northwestern Oklahoma State swept Rogers State in Claremore, sneaking by the Hillcats 1-0 in the opener and 8-7 in 10 innings in game two. Northwestern evened it SAC Conference record at 12-12 and is now 27-17 overall. The Rangers remain two games back of Rogers State (40-12, 14-9), who is in fourth place in the conference.   

Only five hits were produced in the opener, with Rogers holding the 3-2 edge in that department.

The only run of the game came on an unearned run in the top of the fifth inning when Tanya Parker scored on a passed ball. Parker started the inning off with a double and advanced to third on Heather Hokeah’s sacrifice bunt before scoring on the passed ball.

Hokeah and Parker were the only two Rangers with hits.

Becky Holland threw a complete 7-inning shutout and struck out four batters. She allowed one walk in the game.

Game two saw three extra innings as the score was tied 3-3 through regulation. Both teams scored two runs in the eighth and a run in the ninth, forcing the game to a tenth inning.

The Ranger used an unearned run in the ninth, along with Janette Galindo’s single to center field that drove in the winning run.

Rogers State, however, scored a run in the bottom of the inning, but Becky Holland got out a jam with two runners on, as she got the final batter to fly out. Holland (13-5) got the win in four innings of relief. She allowed just one earned run and struck out one, while giving up five hits.

Renea Tarwater started the game and went 4.2 innings before giving way to Whitney Herrmann.

The Rangers tallied seven hits, including 2-for-5 performances by Galindo and Parker.

Northwestern (27-17, 12-12) will host Benedictine (Kan.) in a non-conference doubleheader on Monday, April 28 at the Alva Recreational Complex.

Tanya Parker was hit the game-winning grand slam in game one and was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four runs batted in.

SHAWNEE, Okla. – After splitting a doubleheader ten days ago, the Northwestern Ranger softball team and the Oklahoma Baptist Bison were guilty of the same result on Tuesday, April 22. Northwestern took game one 7-2 and dropped the second one by a run in eight innings, 9-8.

Northwestern scored a single run in the top of the seventh to tie the game and held the Bison scoreless in the bottom half of the inning, forcing extra innings. Jackie Kopacek was placed on second, due to the International Tie Breaker, and was sacrificed to second by Natalie Vasquez. OBU issued intentional walks to Jeana Hancock and Kati Jo Gabaldon to load the bases. After a fielder’s choice by Janette Galindo, forcing Kopacek out at home, Tanya Parker stepped up and provided a big blast with a grand slam, her first home run of the season, giving NWOSU a 6-2 lead. Heather Hokeah followed with a solo bomb, and the Rangers had no trouble in the bottom half to take game one.

Becky Holland struck out three batters and allowed two runs, none earned, in the complete game victory. Holland improved her record to 11-5.

Both teams finished with eight hits, with Parker heading the Ranger hitters, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four runs batted in.

Oklahoma Baptist scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to come back from an 8-5 deficit and win game two. The Bison scored the four runs as they spaced out three hits.

Again, both teams matched each other in hits, this time with 12 each. Kopacek was flawless in her three at bats with three singles. Galindo also turned in a three-hit game, along with two runs scored and an RBI.

Renea Tarwater got the start and pitched 4.1 innings, before giving way to Whitney Herrmann. Hermmann (9-10) threw the final 2.1 innings facing 13 batters.

Northwestern softball team is now 25-17 overall and 10-12 in the SAC Conference. The Rangers head to Claremore on Friday for a doubleheader with Rogers State.

Kati Jo Gabaldon hit .500 during the Capital City Classic. She had two doubles, a grand slam and seven runs batted in.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Ranger softball team picked up two wins and two losses over the weekend at the Capital City Classic played at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. On Friday, Northwestern dropped a 4-3 extra-inning game to Bellevue (Neb.) and then fell 6-4 to Oklahoma Christian. Northwestern was victorious on Saturday, defeating Bethany (Kan.) 11-8 and downing William Woods (Mo.) 8-3. After the four games, Northwestern’s record stands at 24-16.

Against Bellevue, Northwestern held a 3-1 lead after five innings, as the Rangers scored three unearned runs in the top of the fifth. Natalie Vasquez was responsible for two runs driven in on a double to right center field.

Bellevue came back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and neither team scored in the seventh, forcing extra innings.

In the Rangers’ half of the eighth inning, Jackie Kopacek was placed on second in result of the International Tie Breaker rule. She was advanced to third on Vasquez’ sacrifice bunt and Northwestern was unable to score her after a strike out and a fly out.

Bellevue advanced its runner on a sacrifice bunt and then took the win as a single to left field drove in the game-winning run.

Starting on the mound, Becky Holland pitched 5.1 innings and allowed three earned runs. She faced 21 batters and gave up six hits.

Northwestern only had three hits, as Amber Cardona, Vasquez and Kopacek were responsible for them.

Two hour later, against Oklahoma Christian, the Eagles jumped out to a 6-0 lead through three complete innings. The Rangers pushed across two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to come within two.

The Rangers out hit the Eagles, 10-5, with Jeana Hancock leading the way with a 3-for-4 outing. Janette Galindo and Kopacek both had two-hit games, as Kopacek hit two doubles, along with one from Hancock. Northwestern stranded seven runners on base.

Renea Tarwater (5-1) was handed her first collegiate loss, after starting and pitching 2.1 innings. Two of the six runs were earned, as she walked one and allowed four hits. Whitney Herrmann appeared in relief and gave up one hit in 3.2 innings.

During Saturday, Northwestern and Bethany slugged it out over the first three innings, before Bethany led 8-7.

Northwestern went on top in the sixth inning on Tanya Parker’s three-RBI triple to left field. Parker ended up scoring to round the scoring out for the Rangers and eventually taking the 11-8 win.

Holland, who started, was lifted after an inning of work, giving way to Hermmann, who got the win after striking out two batters in six innings of work.

The Rangers didn’t have much trouble with William Jewell (Mo.) in the final game, after using a four-run third inning.

With the scored tied 2-2 after two innings, Kati Jo Gabaldon’s grand slam in the third inning gave the Rangers a 6-2 lead.

After William Jewell scored a single run in the bottom of the third, Northwestern put the game out of reach in the fourth inning when they scored two more runs.

Herrmann picked up her second consecutive win after tossing 3.2 innings of middle relief. Tarwater started the game and was lifted after an inning. Holland finished up the final two and a thirds of an inning not allowing a run.

At the plate, Gabaldon led NWOSU with three hits in four at bats, including a grand slam, five runs batted in and two runs scored. Hancock also had a multi-hit game with two hits.

The Ranger softball team (24-14, 9-11) travels to Shawnee for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Oklahoma Baptist on Tuesday, April 22.

Northwestern Oklahoma State University third baseman Jeana Hancock has been named the Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Week for April 7-13.

Northwestern Oklahoma State University third baseman Jeana Hancock has been named the Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Week for April 7-13.

Hancock, a junior from Pueblo, Colo., hit .583 (14-for-24) on the week with four home runs and 11 runs batted in. She scored four times, drew five walks and held a 1.083 slugging percentage.

On the season, Hancock leads NWOSU in home runs (8), runs batted in (32), on base percentage (.500) and slugging percentage (.747). She is second on the team in batting average, hitting .434.

Northwestern (22-12, 9-9) will begin a 10-day road swing, beginning with a doubleheader against St. Gregory’s on Thursday, April 12.

Jackie Kopacek was 4-for-6 against MACU and leads NWOSU with a .462 average.

ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State came away with a split on Monday, as Mid-America Christian picked up their first conference win in the opener, 2-1, before the Rangers took game two, 5-1.

Northwestern was out-hit 7-5 in the opener with Therese Beeler coming up with a team-best, 2-for-4 performance.

Mid-America got a pair of runs off Ranger starter Becky Holland in the third inning.

The Rangers got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth, as Janette Galindo tripled to lead off the inning. With two outs, Galindo scored as Whitney Herrmann reached on an error.

NWOSU threatened again in their final at bat. Beeler singled through the right side to start things off and stole second. She was moved to third on Jackie Kopacek’s sacrifice bunt, but the Rangers couldn’t get the tying run in, as the final two outs were fly outs.

Natalie Vasquez and Jackie Kopacek added singles to round out the Rangers’ five hits.

Holland fell to 10-4 on the season, struck out three Evangels and didn’t allow a walk in the complete game.

Kati Jo Gabaldon and Kopacek had two hits each, half of the Rangers eight hits, as NWOSU held the Evangels to a single run in the second game.

Northwestern scored an unearned run in the second and another solo run in the third, off a Gabaldon single plating Kopacek, to take an early 2-0 lead.

Both teams plated runs in the sixth inning, with MACU scoring a single run in the top of the frame, before Northwestern answered with three runs. Tanya Parker drove in two runs on an RBI single and Heather Hokeah’s fifth home run of the season led to a 5-1 Ranger win.

Whitney Herrmann advanced to 7-8, going 6.1 innings, allowing five hits and striking out one. She threw 6.1 innings as Renea Tarwater was responsible for the other two-thirds of an inning.

Northwestern (22-12, 9-9) will begin a 10-day road swing, beginning with a doubleheader against St. Gregory’s on Thursday, April 12.

The Northwestern Oklahoma State softball doubleheader with Oklahoma Christian University, scheduled for Thursday, April 10 at the Alva Recreation Complex, has been postponed. A make up date has not been set.

Janette Galindo was credited with the Rangers only RBI against St. Gregory's. Galindo was 2-for-3 in the opener.

ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern dropped from fourth place in the Sooner Athletic Conference to sixth place after losing a pair of games, 7-2 and 7-0, to No. 15 St. Gregory’s. The sweep put No. 24 Northwestern at an even 6-6 in the conference and to 19-9 overall.

Northwestern was held to only eight hits on the day, three in the first game and five in the second.

The Rangers only runs of the day came in the fourth inning of the opener. Janette Galindo singled to right, scoring Jackie Kopacek, who singled to left to start out the inning. On the next play, Galindo stole second, drawing a throw as Kati Jo Gabaldon scored from third on the throw down to second base.

Becky Holland (9-3) went the distance on the mound, allowing four earned runs, 10 hits and struck one batter out.

Kopacek, who is leading the SAC in hitting with a .477 average, was 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored. Galindo was the other Ranger with a hit.

The Cavaliers held a 3-0 lead after five innings of play in the nightcap, and scored four of their seven runs in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach.

Kopacek again had a hit along with singles from Tanya Parker and Amber Cardona. Jeana Hancock led the way, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.

Whitney Herrmann evened her record to 6-6 on the mound. She walked one batter, struck out a batter and was charged with four earned runs.

The Rangers (19-9, 6-6) play Thursday through Saturday and will begin with a home doubleheader with Oklahoma Christian at 2p.m. on Thursday, April 10.

Jeana Hancock leads the Rangers with five home runs. She was 4-for-6 against SNU.

BETHANY, Okla. – The 24^th ranked Ranger softball team came away with a split in Bethany, winning the opening game 7-6 and fell 8-1 in the game two. The split left the Rangers at 19-7 on the season.

Both teams scored a run in the opening frame of game one, but the Rangers took an early lead through two innings, as they scored a pair of runs in the second inning to lead 3-1. Northwestern did so on a RBI double from Jackie Kopacek that plated Therese Beeler and scored its second run off Jeana Hancock’s single brought in Kopacek.

The Rangers extended their lead to 6-1, scoring three runs in the top of the fourth inning. The first run of the inning came via an unearned run as Beeler walked and scored when Kopacek reached base on an error by the left fielder. Hancock blasted her fifth home run of the season to give the Rangers the five run advantage.

Southern Nazarene had a big bottom of the fourth inning, scoring four runs on three hits and pulling within a run, trailing 6-5.

In the fifth inning, Kopacek drove in her third run of the game as she knocked in Heather Hokeah, who walked to start the inning.

With the Rangers up 7-5, both teams were held scoreless in the sixth inning.

After Northwestern went three-up, three-down to start the seventh, Southern Nazarene started its half of the inning with a single off Whitney Herrmann, but Herrmann was blessed by the pitcher’s best friend, a double play, as the next batter lined to short and the lead-off single was erased. The Crimson Storms’ starting pitcher, Andrea Pare, was the next batter and went deep to pull SNU within one run, but Herrmann fired back with a strikeout to end the game and SNU’s threat.

Herrmann was awarded the win after throwing 3.1 innings of relief of starter Becky Holland. Both pitchers struck out two batters and combined for 12 hits.

Kopacek, Beeler and Hancock had two hits each, with Kopacek and Hancock having three RBI’s each.

Northwestern was out hit 16-7 in the second game and the only Ranger run was in the second inning, when Amber Cardona reached on an error that scored Kati Jo Gabaldon, who walked.

The Crimson Storm lead 5-1 after three innings and scored a run in the fourth inning and two in the fifth to take the eventual 8-1 win.

Herrmann (6-5) was handed the loss after throwing a third of an inning. Freshman Renea Tarwater threw the final 5.2 innings.

Hancock again led the Rangers, this time with a 2-for-3 outing, while Tanya Parker was 2-for-4.

Northwestern, now 19-7 overall and tied for fourth in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a 6-4 record, hosts No. 15 St. Gregory’s on Tuesday, April 8 in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.

Jackie Kopacek had three hits against Lubbock Christian.

LUBBOCK, Tex. – NO. 24 Northwestern Oklahoma State suffered a pair of run-rule losses in their trip to Lubbock, Texas, against the third-ranked Lubbock Christian Chaps. The Rangers lost the opener 18-2, before dropping the nightcap 11-0.

In both games, Northwestern suffered a nine-run inning. In the first game, it was the opening inning and in game two it was in the third.

After trailing 9-0 after the opening inning, Lubbock added five more runs in the second inning to take a 14-0 lead. Northwestern scored a single run in the third and fourth inning as LCU scored two runs in those innings.

Five different Rangers combined for five hits, as Jeana Hancock homered for the fourth time this season.

Becky Holland (9-2) threw 1.2 innings on the mound and gave way to Renea Tarwater, who finished the final 2.1 innings.

Lubbock Christian took a 2-0 lead after one inning of play in the second game and extended that lead to 11-0 after the nine-run third inning.

Northwestern mustered four hits and left seven runners on base as Jackie Kopacek had two singles. Therese Beeler and Janette Galindo also had singles in the game.

Whitney Herrmann (5-4) pitched all four innings for Northwestern, striking out one batter.

Northwestern (18-6, 5-3) will meet Southern Nazarene on Monday, April 7 in a make up Sooner Athletic Conference game.

Northwestern is ranked No. 24 in the NAIA

For the first time in the eight-year history of the program, the Northwestern Oklahoma State University softball team has been ranked in the NAIA’s top 25. The Rangers entered the poll ranked 24^th with an 18-4 overall record. Northwestern is currently in second place in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a 5-1 record.

Six of the SAC’s ten teams were mentioned in the April 2 poll. Lubbock Christian, in its first season of competition, dropped from the best in the nation to a third place ranking, while Rogers State moved from 10^th to 5^th. Oklahoma City and St. Gregory’s are two spots away, ranked 13 and 15^th respectively. Oklahoma Christian received seven votes.

Northwestern heads to Lubbock on Saturday, April 5 for a doubleheader against third-ranked Lubbock Christian. It will be the first time the two teams have met.

Northwestern Oklahoma State’s softball doubleheader originally scheduled against Southern Nazarene University in Bethany at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 3 has been rescheduled for Monday, April 7 due to rain. The Rangers are currently ranked 24^th in the nation and are 18-4 on the season.

Freshman pitcher Renea Tarwater recorded both vicotries against Sterling (Kan.)

ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern improved to 18-4 overall after winning its eight straight softball game in a doubleheader sweep over non-conference Sterling (Kan.) College at the Alva Rec. Complex on Wednesday. It took the Rangers eight innings to down the Warriors 8-7 in the opener and then NWOSU turned it on in game two, defeating Sterling 9-1 in a six-inning run-rule.

Northwestern cruised through the first three innings, taking a 5-0 lead with a single run in the first inning off a Heather Hokeah double and then the Ranger put up a four spot in the third inning.

In the third, the Rangers’ four runs came on four hits as Jeana Hancock singled in a run, Janette Galindo singled through the left side for another run and Natalie Vasquez’ two-RBI double pulled the Rangers ahead 5-0.

Sterling came back with a four run fourth inning and cut the lead to 5-4. The Warriors added two more runs in the fifth to lead 6-5.

Northwestern matched Sterling’s fifth inning runs, with two of its own, on Therese Beeler’s single up the middle to put NWOSU back up, 7-6.

The Warriors took advantage of a Ranger error and were able to push a run across a run in the seventh inning and held the Rangers scoreless, forcing extra innings for the second straight day.

Renea Tarwater, who came in relief of Whitney Herrmann, threw the final two outs to get NWOSU out of the eighth.

Northwestern didn’t waste any time in their half of the eighth, as Kati Jo Gabaldon walked to start the inning, stole second base and reached home on Hancock’s double to right center.

Tarwater (3-0) got the win in her two outs of work. She struck out two of the three batters she faced.

Beeler, Hancock and Vasquez all had two hit performances and each had a double.

Northwestern turned up the heat in game two, downing Sterling 9-1 in five innings with 11 hits.

Sterling moved ahead 1-0 with a solo run in the first inning, but Northwestern blew up for seven runs in the third on six Ranger hits.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hancock’s sacrifice fly to left field scored the Rangers’ eighth run, and during the same play, a throwing error allowed Amber Cardona to score to enforce the run-rule.

Tarwater moved to 4-0 in the complete game, striking out one and walking none in six innings pitched.

Cardona and Hokeah were both 2-for-4, while Galindo and Allison were each 2-for-3.

The Rangers (18-4, 5-1) are off for the weekend and will return to action on Monday, March 31 as they travel to Moore to take on Hillsdale Baptist.

Jackie Kopacek, who is currently leading the Rangers hitting .500, was 5-for-7 against Southern Nazarene.

ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern softball team used late inning heroics in both games of its doubleheader against conference foe Southern Nazarene, defeating the Crimson Storm 1-0 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh in the opener, and 4-3 in the eighth inning during the nightcap. The wins advanced the Rangers to 16-4 overall and to 5-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

Northwestern outhit Southern Nazarene 7-4, with the Amber Cardona recording the game-winning single to left field with the bases loaded and two outs. Cardona scored Brittany Allison, who pinch ran for pinch hitter Whitney Herrmann’s walk.

Kopacek was 2-for-4 with a double, while five other players had singles.

Becky Holland won her fourth straight game and improved to 9-1 on the year. She struck out three batters and scattered just four hits in 27 batters faced.

Southern Nazarene jumped out in front of Northwestern with two runs in the opening inning of the second game, but Northwestern battled back for a run in the first and two runs in the second, off a Kopacek double, to take a 3-2 lead.

The Crimson Storm pushed a single run across in the top of the third inning after a double drove in a leadoff single.

Reliever Whitney Herrmann sat down SNU in order during the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

Neither team could score through the end of regulation, forcing into an eighth inning.

With both teams using the International Tie Breaker, SNU was first and moved its runner to third base on a sacrifice to start the inning, but Herrmann sat down three in a row to hold the Crimson Strom runless.

Northwestern’s Heather Hokeah was advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kati Jo Gabaldon and scored when Jeana Hancock knocked in the game-winning run on a hard-hit single to left field.

Herrmann picked up her fifth win of the season, throwing six innings of relief behind Holland. She stuck out three and allowed only one hit in 18 batters faced.

The Rangers had 10 hits, with Kopacek going a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs batted in. Hancock and Janette Galindo had two hits each.

Northwestern (16-4, 5-1) hosts a non-conference 1 p.m. doubleheader against Sterling (Kan.) on Wednesday, March 26.

Northwestern Oklahoma State University centerfield Kati Jo Gabaldon was named the Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Week for March 17-23.

Northwestern Oklahoma State University centerfield Kati Jo Gabaldon was named the Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Week for March 17-23.

Gabaldon, a junior center fielder from Belen, N.M., batted .714 for the week (5-7) with a triple, home run and seven RBI. She scored four times and carried a slugging percentage of 1.286 in two Lady Ranger wins.

Northwestern (14-4, 3-1) will next host Southern Nazarene (7-12, 0-4) on Tuesday, March 25 for a 2 p.m. doubleheader at the Alva Rec. Complex.

Jeana Hancock hit her team leading third home run against York (Neb.).

ALVA, Okla. – The Ranger softball team made quick work of York (Neb.) on Thursday, pounding the Panthers in two five-inning run-rule wins, 10-1 and 15-5 at the Alva Recreation Complex.

Northwestern scored two runs in the first inning and three runs in the third inning of game one to jump out to a 5-1 lead.

Starter Becky Holland (8-1) shut down the Panthers for the final three innings and allowed only six hits and one earned run, while striking out one batter in 20 batters faced.

Northwestern had a big fourth inning, scoring five runs on six hits and held York in the bottom half for the run-rule.

The Rangers slugged out 13 hits, of which the first five hitters had two hits or more. Kati Jo Gabaldon’s 3-for-3 performance led the way as she hit her second home run of the season, drove in five runs and scored twice. Jackie Kopacek, Amber Cardona, Tanya Parker and Jeana Hancock all had two hits each.

In game two, Heather Hokeah’s three RBI double gave the Rangers a 3-0 lead at the end of one. Northwestern tacked on four more runs in the fourth, but York pushed across four runs in the bottom of the second to trail, 7-4.

Holland was lifted after two innings of work, as Whitney Herrmann threw the final three innings in earning the victory. Herrmann allowed just two hits and one run as she improved to 4-3 on the season.

The Rangers continued to score in every inning, scoring three runs in the third, a single run in the fourth and forced the run-rule with four runs in fifth inning without getting an out. 

Each player recorded at least a hit, as seven had multi hit games. Kopacek led the way, going 3-for-4 with three runs batted in, while Hancock hit her third home run of the season.

Northwestern (14-4, 3-1) will return to conference action as they host Southern Nazarene (7-12, 0-4) on Tuesday, March 25 for a 2 p.m. doubleheader at the Alva Rec. Complex.

The Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball and softball teams have been weathered out, due to heavy rain, in their original scheduled games for St. Patrick’s Day, Monday, March 17.

The Ranger baseball doubleheader with Hillsdale Baptist has been cancelled and no make up date has been set. Northwestern’s softball Sooner Athletic Conference doubleheader at Rogers State in Claremore has been postponed until Friday, April 15.

Weather permitting, Northwestern softball will resume action on Wednesday, March 19 when they host Sterling College in a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The baseball team’s next game is a nine-inning affair at 2 p.m. with No. 6 Oklahoma City University on Thursday, March 20.

Brittany Allison was 3-fo-6 at Mid-America Christian

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Northwestern’s softball team improved its record to 10-2 overall and to 3-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a sweep of Mid-America Christian, 6-4 and 3-0.

Starter Becky Holland moved to 5-0 on the season with five strikeouts, in recording the complete-game win in the opener. Holland allowed only two earned runs in 28 batters faced.

Trailing 2-0 going into the fifth inning, Northwestern lit up the scoreboard for six runs on seven hits in the top half of the frame.

Northwestern hung onto the lead, but not before MACU scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the fifth.

Jackie Kopacek and Kati Jo Gabaldon combined for half of the Rangers’ 10 hits. Kopacek was 3-for-4 with a triple, run scored and an RBI, while Gabaldon had a double and was 2-for-3 with three runs batted in and a runs scored.

Whitney Herrmann (3-2) spread out five hits and didn’t allow a walk, to hold the Evangels off balance in game two. Herrmann stuck out two batters, while facing only three batters over the minimum.

The Rangers scored two runs in the fourth inning and a solo run in the fifth sixth inning.

Northwestern out hit MACU 9-5 in the nightcap. Catcher Brittany Allison and third baseman Jeana Hancock each had a pair of hits. Janette Galindo and Natalie Vasquez were responsible for knocking in two of the Rangers’ three runs.

Northwestern (10-2, 3-1) will play two games on Friday and two games on Saturday in the Oklahoma Christian Invitational played at Farmer’s Branch, Tex. over the weekend.