ALVA, Okla. — Oklahoma Baptist built an early cushion and held off a late push from Northwestern Oklahoma State to claim a 7–4 road win Thursday night at the Northwestern Softball Field. The Bison improved to 31–6, while the Rangers slipped to 10–27.
OBU struck quickly in the opening frame.
Greenlee Wells reached and later scored, and after
Kaley Cook reached on an error,
Nichelle Marshall delivered a two‑run single to give the Bison a 2–0 lead in the first.
Northwestern answered in the bottom half with an RBI double from Jamie Molina, trimming the margin to 2–1, but Oklahoma Baptist responded with a three‑run second.
Ally Ryan doubled to start the inning, and
Katelyn Kilgore lined an RBI single to right. Moments later, Cook punched a two‑run single to center, pushing the Bison in front 5–1.
The visitors added another in the third as Ryan came through again, singling home
Keirstin Briggs, who had pinch‑run and moved into scoring position. OBU stretched the lead to 6–1.
Northwestern chipped back in the bottom of the third when Savannah Duran reached and later scored on Abby Baglin's RBI fielder's choice, cutting the deficit to 6–2.
OBU added an insurance run in the fifth. Briggs singled and stole second,
Haley Hacker followed with a base hit, and
Jessi Hull knocked an RBI single through the right side to make it 7–2.
The Rangers mounted a final push in the seventh. Kaylee Madden doubled and scored on Kaitlyn Corn's RBI double, and Molina followed with another RBI single to pull Northwestern within three, but reliever
Jaycee Shaffer stranded the tying run to seal the win.
Jaycee Kelln earned the victory with 4.1 innings of work, allowing two runs, while Shaffer closed the final 2.2 frames with four strikeouts.
The Bison play the doubleheader tomorrow beginning at Noon.
