Box Score OXFORD, Ala. - Despite jumping out to a 5-0 lead, No. 5 seed Northwest allowed six unanswered runs, as fourth-seeded Murray State College (Okla.) delivered its second consecutive walk-off victory in a 6-5 decision against the Rangers.
After a scoreless first inning from both teams, the Rangers struck first in the top of the second, thanks to a sacrifice fly from
Caylee Comer that scored
Molly Harris from third. Northwest then used a three-run frame in the top of the third to take a 4-0 advantage.
An error allowed the Rangers to drive in another run in the top half of the fourth inning, but the Northwest momentum came to a screeching halt with a double play to end the inning. From there, the bats woke up for Murray State College, as three straight base hits loaded the bases for the Aggies in the bottom of the fourth.
Sabetha Sands got the Aggies on the board with an RBI-double to left center and a sacrifice fly from Kenzie Tuck shrunk the Northwest deficit to 5-2. After the Rangers went down scoreless in the fifth, Murray State College cut the lead down even further in the fifth, pulling within 5-3.
Northwest threatened with runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings, but the Aggies' reliever Sheyenne Cheek kept the Rangers scoreless in both frames. Meanwhile, Murray State College continued to trim the gap with a run in the sixth and a two-run single from Abby Beck in the bottom of the seventh brought in the winning runs for the Aggies.
Northwest outhit the Aggies, 9-8, with
Laila Armstrong going 2-for-4 to lead the Rangers' offensive efforts. Murray State College was led by two hits apiece from Beck and Shallen Mershon.
Gabby Dickerson was handed a rare loss for the Rangers, dropping to 25-8 in the circle. The Olive Branch native logged her 17th complete game and tossed six strikeouts, while issuing five walks.
Cheek picked up the win in relief for Murray State College, improving to 19-2 with only one hit allowed in three innings of work.
With the loss, Northwest fell to 36-14 on the season. The Rangers will now face elimination for the duration of the tournament, beginning with a 4 P.M. contest against Oakland (Mich.) later this afternoon. Fans can tune in on Ranger TV (nwccrangers.com/watch) to follow all the action from that contest.
