Bolivar, Mo. – The UW-Parkside team opened a ten-game road trip by dropping a pair of games to Southwest Baptist University on Tuesday afternoon. The Rangers fell 7-2 in the opener and 5-4 in game two on the SBU softball field in Bolivar. They will continue their trip on Wednesday with a doubleheader at Missouri Southern State University.
 
Below are recaps for the two games at Southwest Baptist.
 
Game One (Box Score)
The Rangers had a hit in each of the first two innings but came up empty before the Bobcat bats came alive in the bottom of the second. They recorded eight hits in a seven-run inning to open up a big early lead. A three-run homer chased Lauren Vitiello who started the game.
 
Kristin Kleinmeyer came in and went the final 4 1/3 innings allowing just one run at the tail end of the second.
 
The Rangers looked to mount a comeback in the sixth thanks in part to three walks. Kleinmeyer and Cecie Portillo started the inning with free passes. Colleen Cummings replaced Kleinmeyer on the bases on a fielder's choice. After a pop-up, Kirsten Luevano walked to load the bases.
 
Vitiello came through with an RBI-single to get Parkside on the board. Cummings came around with the second run when the ball was bobbled in the outfield. A comebacker ended the inning with the Rangers trailing 7-2.
 
Natalie Shank singled in the seventh but the Rangers couldn't get another runner on.
 
Parkside was limited to five hits in the opener to go with their three walks.
 
Game Two (Box Score)
The second game was back and forth throughout with the Rangers striking immediately in the top of the first.
 
Lexi Sotiros led off the game with a single in the hole and moved to second on a hit by Cummings. The next two batters were retired but the Rangers weren't done. Bridget Walters drew a walk and Ashley Nowdomski followed with an RBI-single to score Sotiros for a 1-0 lead.
 
The Bobcats got that run back in the bottom half but Parkside came right back with another two-out rally. Sotiros started it with a walk and then scampered to second on a wild pitch. Cummings made Southwest Baptist pay with a single back up the middle to bring in Sotiros with the second run.
 
The Bobcats took the lead with two in the third and an unearned run in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. Parkside wouldn't go away though, coming back to tie it in the top of the fifth.
 
Vitiello led off with a double. Kira Cooper came in to run and went to third on a double by Bridget Walters. After a strikeout, Kelynn Sporer walked and the Bobcats went to the bullpen.
 
The Rangers were able to tie the game on the next at-bat as Kyla Walczak reached via error, allowing Cooper to score. Walters was also able to score on a second error and the game was tied at four. SBU got out of the jam but Parkside was back to even.
Unfortunately the Rangers defense let down in the bottom of the seventh giving the Bobcats a walk-off win. The leadoff batter reached on an error. After a strikeout the next batter reached by fielder's choice and got to second on a wild pitch. With runners on second and third another ground ball was hit but Parkside's attempt at the runner at the plate was too late and the Bobcats gained the win.
 
The Rangers had nine hits in the night cap with two apiece from Sotiros, Cummings, and Luevano.
 
Sporer took the loss going 6 1/3 innings allowing three earned runs while striking out three.
 
Parkside is bat at it Wednesday beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Missouri Southern State University.