ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball team took the road for its second straight series this weekend, and started the series off with the hosts, Ouachita Baptist taking game one, 12-2.

Northwestern was led by Jacob Long who had an outstanding day at the plate where he went 3-for-4 with an RBI. The other three Rangers to collect hits were Greg Carrington, Colton Krokroskia and Cooper Stanley.

Starting on the mound for game one of the series was junior Bryce Tomlin who threw 4.2 innings in the outing, surrendering four runs on five hits and four walks.

Both starters were stingy early on in the game as neither gave up a run in the first two innings of play, but the visitors changed that in the top of the third. Krokroskia was able to reach on an error and was promptly brought around to score on a single down the right field line by Long, making it 1-0.

It wasn't long however before the Tigers answered with a run of their own, following a bunt single to third base, tying it up at one apiece.

The Black-and-Red had their biggest chance to put runs on the board in top of the fourth inning, loading the bases full of Rangers, but they were unable to capitalize on the three consecutive walks issued by the OBU pitching staff.

As Tomlin got through another inning with no runs crossing the plate, his teammates took advantage, plating another run in the fifth off an RBI groundout by Stanley that was set up by a Krokroskia single and a double by Long.

The bottom of the fifth was a tough one for the Rangers as four total runs crossed the plate for the hosts, putting the Tigers up three, 5-2. The three runs led to the knocking out of Tomlin, who was replaced by Brandon Nesseralla.

Nesseralla was able to get out of the jam in the bottom of five, but gave up a run of his own in the sixth to make it a four-run game.

One and one-third inning was all the work given to Nesseralla in the ballgame as he surrendered just the one run in the showing. Blake Jones took over for the visitors on the mound in the bottom of the seventh.

Two straight walks by the senior Jones finished off his afternoon quickly however as Ranger skipper, Sam Carel looked to the bullpen once again, this time for Baron Phillips.

Phillips also had a tough outing, pitching 1.2 innings and surrendering four runs along the way. He was also replaced on the bump as Nick McKinney came in for three batters, but that would be all as the two runs scored by the Tigers in the bottom of eight gave them the mercy-rule victory.

UP NEXT

Northwestern and Ouachita will meet up on the diamond again tomorrow for a noon first pitch where the series will be decided.