ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southwestern Oklahoma State took the field for the series opening doubleheader this afternoon where the Rangers took game one, 4-3 in walk-off fashion. The second game didn't go Northwestern's way however as the Bulldogs won convincingly, 7-1.

Game 1

Senior Thomas Sander took the mound in game one of the day and was fantastic in his outing going 7.2 innings, surrendering just two hits and three runs.

Pat Delano and TJ Kassner tore it up at the plate in the first of the twinbill, going 2-for-3, helping the Rangers to the win.

Starting pitcher Thomas Sander started out with a rough top half of the first inning, but was able to overcome two hit batters to strike out a Bulldog batter to strand runners at second and third base.

Following a 1-2-3 inning from the Rangers at the plate, the Bulldogs capitalized on an error by second baseman Casey Dickerman to score the opening run on an RBI double that just made its way over the glove of leftfielder Colton Krokroskia. Despite the unearned run charged against him, Sander continued to battle and got the final out with a runner once again stranded in scoring position for the Bulldogs.

Bulldog hurler, Jeremy Smith was quick to get two outs in the bottom of two, but struggled in the next three Ranger batters, walking all of them to load the bases. He got out of the jam however in the next at bat on a swinging strikeout.

For the second straight inning, Sander tripped up the first three batters of the inning for SWOSU, maintaining the 1-0 lead.

In a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth inning, Deckard crosses the plate on a laced single to left field by Kassner, making it a tie ballgame. The end of the inning would come on a driven ball to center, but into the glove of the centerfielder ending the inning.

Following three clean innings for Sander, the visitors touched him up for two in the top of six on a single to left field and a hit by pitch to bring the score to 3-1.

Northwestern wasn't willing to give in however as Delano brought around Deckard on a single through the left side of the infield. That hit was preceded by a roped single to right by Castro, moving Deckard up a bag, but that was all the home team could bring around.

Sander continued to throw a gem into the top of the eighth where he eventually came out to a standing ovation from the crowd and his teammates in his final appearance on the mound in a Ranger uniform.

The senior from Seiling, Okla. went 7.2 innings, giving up just two hits in his electric final start. Nick Llorente came in to relieve Sander and threw an outstanding 1.1 innings.

The Ranger bats came alive in the bottom of the ninth where they would get a walk-off win for the second straight game on an RBI fielder's choice to second base by Krokroskia. The run was scored by Kassner who was strangely the walk-off run in the game on Tuesday as well.

Northwestern won the hotly contested game, 4-3.

Game 2

Northwestern started game two off with junior David Sanchez who only went one inning following a tough opening frame.

Senior Colton Krokroskia was the only Ranger batter to collect multiple hits in the second game, going 2-for-3. Three other Northwestern hitters had hits in the game in senior Garrett Douglas, Deckard and Kassner, adding to the five-hit total.

Sanchez started off in the hole in inning number one, giving up two runs on three wild pitches and a passed ball. The Bulldogs only collected one hit in the inning of work.

Northwestern started off the inning with a man on with a single by Krokroskia, but he was doubled up at second in the very next at bat.

Ranger skipper, Sam Carel turned to the bullpen in the top of the second inning, following no outs recorded and runners at first and second. electing to go with Matthew Bickford.

Southwestern threatened in the top of the third, but a heady play by Kassner got the lead runner at the plate, Anderson who was ejected on the play for running over Castro.

The Bulldogs tacked on two more in the fourth on a single down the left field line, making it a commanding 7-0 lead.

For the fourth straight inning, the Bulldog starter mowed down the hosts at the plate and continued the scoreless game for Northwestern.

Following the open fourth inning, Baron Phillips came on to pitch for the Black-and-Red who was a three-up three-down performer in the fifth.

Coming on for the Rangers in the top of the sixth was junior reliever, Blake Jones who was steady giving up just a double, but was clean throughout the rest of the sixth, giving up no runs.

Two-straight singles and a walk brought the bases loaded for the hosts and they would capitalize, crossing the plate for one run, but that was all they were able to get on the board.

Another Ranger reliever opened up the top of the seventh in Brandon Nesseralla who came away unscathed, making it the third straight scoreless inning for SWOSU.

Unfortunately, the Rangers were sat down in order in the seventh to finish the game in 7-1 fashion.

UP NEXT
The rivals will finish up the series tomorrow afternoon with the first pitch slated to begin at 1 p.m. in the rubber match.