MAGNOLIA, Ark. - The Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball team opened up their Great American Conference road series with a 10-0 loss on the road against No. 27 Southern Arkansas. 


The Rangers (13-15, 7-9 GAC) managed just one hit throughout the game and were unable to capitalize on starting pitcher Matt Goertzen's solid work through the opening four innings. Goertzen held the Muleriders (17-8, 11-5 GAC) to just one run in those first four innings of work before a potent offense finally broke through and broke the game open through the final three frames. 


Goertzen went 6.0 innings while giving up four earned runs on five hits and struck out six along the way. Freshman Ryan Marcoccia and Bryson Wrobel combined to finish out the seventh inning before the run-rule came into effect by combining to allow six earned runs in the bottom half of the seventh. 


Catcher Brendan Kates had the lone Ranger hit on the evening by way of a single in the top half of the inning. Luis Cintron and Justin Bundy served as the only other Northwestern base runners for the evening, each drawing a walk, but Southern Arkansas starter Hunter Vasquez proved to be too much throughout the contest for the Ranger lineup. 


The Rangers will be eager to get back on the diamond for a doubleheader against the Muleriders scheduled to get started at noon.