1
Mo. Southern St. MSSU 3-1
2
Winner Northwestern Okla. NWOSUBB 5-2
Mo. Southern St. MSSU
3-1
1
Final
2
Northwestern Okla. NWOSUBB
5-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Mo. Southern St. MSSU 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 8 1
Northwestern Okla. NWOSUBB 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 X 2 3 0

W: Wharton, Walker (2-0) L: Osburn,Corbin (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Jay Barlett, Athletic Communications

Wharton goes the distance in 2-1 win over Missouri Southern

ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers fought their way to a 2-1 victory over the Missouri Southern State Lions thanks to a gritty complete game performance from senior LHP Walker Wharton. Last week's Great American Conference Pitcher of the Week held a stacked MSSU offense to just one run while striking out eight in Friday's series finale.

Coming off back-to-back losses to open the series, head coach Ryan Bowen sent Wharton (W, 2-0) to the hill in an effort to salvage the last of a three-game set with Missouri Southern. The 6'2 Texan needed just one hour and fifty-five minutes to hand the Lions their first loss of the season.

The Rangers landed the first blow in the bottom of the 1st when Jorin Van Amstel (2-for-4, 2 RBI) laced a double down the left field line to score redshirt sophomore Daschal Johnson (1-for-2, 2R, 2BB), giving Wharton some much appreciated early run support. Van Amstel accounted for the majority of Northwestern's offense on the afternoon, providing two hits of the Rangers three hits while and driving in both runs.

MSSU starter Corbin Osburn (L, 0-1) worked seven innings allowing just two earned runs on three hits, striking out 12 Rangers. Osburn gave way to reliever Cam Bednar in the 8th who struck out three in his only inning.

Pitching to both sides of the plate and changing speeds, Wharton was able to strand seven base runners including leadoff doubles in three different innings. The fifth-year senior walked just one batter and struck out eight in his nine innings.

Northwestern's defense stepped up in a big way behind Wharton as they did not commit an error for the first time this season. The lefthander kept his infield busy with a diving changeup that yielded 12 ground ball outs to a MSSU squad that hit a staggering 81 home runs a year ago.

Up Next
The Rangers will hit the road for their next six games, starting with a single 9-inning game at Northeastern State University on Wednesday, Feb. 14. First pitch against the Riverhawks in Tahlequah is set for 1 p.m.
For the latest news and updates on Ranger Baseball, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit www.riderangersride.com
 
 
 
 
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