JONESBORO, Ark. – A late inning, 10-run rally from Central Baptist and a tie against Three Rivers College left Northwest softball empty-handed in the win column on Saturday in Jonesboro.
Central Baptist handed the Rangers their first loss of the fall, after Northwest swept Blue Mountain, Arkansas State and Holmes in September.
Northwest will conclude fall competition on Saturday, Oct. 24 with another trip to Jonesboro for a doubleheader against Arkansas State.
Game 1 - Central Baptist 12, Northwest 9
Leading 9-2 entering the top of the seventh inning, Northwest surrendered 10 runs to the Lady Mustangs for a 12-9 loss.
Northwest tacked on four runs in the bottom of the second and three in the third for an early 7-0 lead.
Central Baptist rallied with two runs in the top of the fourth inning, but the Rangers responded with two of their own in the sixth inning and stretched the lead to 9-2 ahead of Central Baptist's big seventh inning.
Both teams tallied 11 hits apiece, led by three from Kaitlyn Bednarek.
Saige Koczka also finished with four RBIs.
Meagan Allen tossed 6.2 innings of work, finishing with a strikeout.
Game 2 - Northwest 1, Three Rivers 1
Oakley Laughter led the Rangers with two hits and Caylee Comer drove in the lone Northwest run in a 1-1 tie with Three Rivers.
Northwest scored its run in the bottom of the first, only for Three Rivers to respond to tie the contest in the top of the third inning.
Both teams combined for 15 hits, eight coming from Northwest. In the circle,
Kaylei Peterson threw 6.2 innings with seven strikeouts.
