GAME 1: Purdue Northwest 5, Parkside 4
GAME 2: Purdue Northwest 9, Parkside 4
A surging Purdue Northwest squad took both games from Parkside softball on Wednesday afternoon, as the Pride improved to 15-5 overall and 5-1 in the GLIAC. The Rangers hit three home runs in game two, the most they've had all season. The homers came from junior Taylor Delgado, junior Dani Evans and freshman Eden Welling.
 
GAME 1 RECAP
Game one went back-and-forth, with Evans ripping an RBI double in the top of the fourth inning to tie it up 1-1 at the time. PNW took a 4-1 lead in the bottom half of the inning, but Parkside responded in the top of the fifth with a two-run double by freshman Tia Livernash and an RBI single by Jadynn Powell to knot it up once again.
 
PNW was able to win the game in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a Rangers' throwing error after a sacrifice bunt.
 
The top of the order did nearly all the damage for the Rangers, with Livernash finishing 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs and Powell going 1-for-2 with an RBI. Welling drew three walks and scored a run. Redshirt-senior Kiley Akey suffered the loss, going 6.1 innings allowing five runs (two earned) with four strikeouts.
 
GAME 2 RECAP
Delgado hit her team-leading second home run of the season to open things up for Parkside in the top of the first inning, giving the Rangers an early lead, but PNW bounced back to take a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the third. Welling cut into the lead with a solo home run in the top of the fourth, her first career home run with Parkside. PNW tallied two more in the fourth, but Evans came through with a two-run homer in the top of the sixth to make it a 6-4 ball game. The Pride pushed the lead back up to five runs and the Rangers couldn't recover.
 
Delgado was the lone Rangers player to finish with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with a home run. Evans went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI while Welling hit a home run as well. Livernash, redshirt-senior Alyssa Laxson and sophomore Emmee Ball had hits as well.
 
Senior Tijanne Ross suffered the loss in game two, going 3.0 innings while freshman Olivia Masnica pitched the final 3.0 innings.
 
ON DECK
The Rangers will keep up the busy week with a DH against No. 24 Grand Valley State on Thursday, April 7 before heading to face Ferris State (April 9) and Northwood (April 10).