ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball team will welcome Oklahoma Baptist to Myers Stadium for their second straight home series this weekend.

The Rangers put up a solid fight all weekend against nationally-ranked Southern Arkansas in last weekend's series despite being defeated in all three games. All three games were within three-run ballgames against the conference leading Muleriders.

Catcher Arturo Castro continued to be the driving force of the Ranger offense as he maintained his solid average at .359 despite stout pitching from Southern Arkansas. Castro finished the weekend going 4-for-11 while scoring two runs and also driving in a run. First basemen Pat Delano stepped up over the weekend in the heart of the order and went 4-for-11 during the series including a two hit, two RBI performance in the second game of the weekend.

The Ranger bats in the middle of the order must continue to have quality weekends as the Bison of Oklahoma Baptist (17-12, 10-8 in GAC) boast the second-best ERA in the conference at 3.46, trailing only Henderson State. The staff is highlighted by senior Jinny Parra, who was named a Preseason All-American by Baseball America after being named the 2016 Great American Conference Pitcher of the Year. Parra has started right where he left off this season, posting an ERA of 2.72 through his first eight starts with 44 strikeouts in 49 innings of work.

The return of Parra, as well as the experience of Oklahoma Baptist head coach Bobby Cox, netted the Bison the top spot in the Great American Conference Preseason Poll after a 43-15 season last year. The Bison will be looking to start a winning streak similar to the one they began last season that led them all the way to the NCCAA National Championship, providing a perfect opportunity for the Rangers to play spoilers as they look to build momentum themselves and hopefully jump into play-off contention as the season begins to wind down.

Due to the anticipation of adverse weather this weekend in Alva, the action will begin Friday afternoon with a double-header scheduled for 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and then on Saturday afternoon with first pitch set for noon.