SHAWNEE, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball held the lead in both games Saturday, but seven-run innings in each contest hindered the Rangers' efforts as they were swept by Oklahoma Baptist University in 15-8 and 8-5 losses.
Game 1
TJ Kassner (2-for-4, HR) opened the scoring for the black-and-red in the 2
nd with a two-run shot to left, scoring
Luis Mendoza to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead. The 5'9, 150 lb shortstop's big fly was his first since April 17 of last season when he went deep in an 18-8 win over Southern Nazarene.
The Rangers sent
Cole Jackson (L, 2-3) to the hill in hopes of taming a Bison lineup that put up 15 runs the night before. Jackson sat the Bison down in order in the 1
st and surrendered just a walk in the 2
nd, which he quickly erased with a strong pick-off move to nab Zane Gelphman at first.
Oklahoma Baptist capitalized in the 3
rd when Jackson issued four walks in the inning as the first seven batters reached safely, leading to the Rangers making a change on the mound trailing 4-2.
Sean Rydell came into the game with runners on first and second and one out but was tagged for a three-run home run by the first batter he faced that capped off OBU's seven-run frame.
Daschal Johnson cut the Bison lead to three with in the 4
th when he connected on his sixth homer of the season, a two-run shot over the wall in left that scored Kassner to make it 7-4.
The Bison added four more in the 6
th to extend their lead before Northwestern countered with a four-run 7
th to restore a three-run deficit. But OBU would score again in the 7
th and 8
th with a pair of two-run home runs off relievers Ryan Maroccia and
Matthew Bickford, leading to the Bison taking the game 15-8.
Game 2
A leadoff double from
Daschal Johnson led to
Justin Bundy driving in the game's first run on a groundout to second in the top of the 1
st. Northwestern would add two more in the 2
nd when Johnson cashed in
Harrison Hull and Mendoza with a base hit up the middle.
Walker Wharton made his ninth start of the 2018 campaign, sporting a 2.89 ERA over 53 innings of work. After giving up a run in the bottom of the 1
st, the 6'2 Texan battled through the next three frames to maintain a 3-1 Northwestern lead.
Three-straight singles from Oklahoma Baptist in the 5
th tied the game 3-3, leading head coach
Ryan Bowen to make the move to
Brandon Nesseralla to face the dangerous right-hander Gelphman.
But the move was answered with a two-run home run from Gelphman, his 10
th of the season that gave OBU a 5-3 edge. The Bison tacked on three more in what would be their second seven-run inning of the day, leaving Northwestern's offense facing a five run deficit.
The Rangers chipped away in the 6
th with two runs, but the comeback was denied as Oklahoma Baptist took the finale 8-5 for the series sweep.
Up Next
Northwestern was scheduled to host Cameron University on Tuesday, April 3, but that game has been cancelled. The Rangers will have a few days to regroup before hosting Southern Nazarene University for a three-game set at Glass Family Field at Myers Stadium next weekend.
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