EDMOND, Okla- Northwestern opened the 2020 season Friday afternoon against Missouri Southern State University, as part of the Edmond First Pitch Classic this weekend. The season opened with a battle that Northwestern would fall just short in 7-5.

Sophomore, Scott Creedon received the opening day start where he would go five innings pitched allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits while striking out five with one walk. After allowing a first-inning unearned run off a single he responded with two shutout innings before allowing two home runs in the top half of the fourth.  

The Rangers followed with AJ Shaw in relief going three and a third innings pitched giving up three runs on four hits while striking out six. Harry Park would finish the final two-thirds innings striking out with no hits or runs given up. 

The Red-and-Black's offense had six hits on the day led by getting two hits from Jake Darrow, and Justin Gordon. Darrow produced a 2-RBI single and Gordon had an RBI ground-rule double in the ninth trying to help pull off the comeback in the ninth which ultimately fell short. Daschal Johnson, and Billy Rogers each had a hit each. 

Each team traded runs in the first inning after a Lion reached second on an error, he was driven home from an RBI single from Dexter Swims. Northwestern responded in the bottom half after a leadoff walk from Darrow, Johnson sacrificed him to second, and Darrow would later score on a Colton Whitehouse sacrifice fly.

The game would stay tied at one apiece until the fourth inning when the Lions would receive a homerun from Matt Miller, and then a Troy Gagan 2-Run homerun as well creating a 4-1 lead for Missouri Southern. 

The score would stay that way until the seventh when Tommy Stevenson would get a 2 RBI double creating a 6-1 lead. The Lions would add one last run making the game 7-1. 

Northwestern would try to mount a comeback in the bottom half of the ninth inning when they would score 4 runs. Bryce Donovan would start by walking for the third time on the day.  Gordon would bring him in with a single to center. Followed by the Rogers ground-rule double. After a pitching change, Darrow came up and got a 2-RBI single making the game 7-5. 

The rally would fall short as Logan VanWey would get a strikeout for the Lions to close out the ballgame 7-5 as the Rangers dropped their opener falling to 0-1 on the season. 

The Red-and-Black will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 PM versus Central Oklahoma.