SHAWNEE, Okla.-  After sweeping the conference opening weekend against Southern Nazarene, Northwestern Oklahoma State dropped the first game of this three game series Friday evening to Oklahoma Baptist 7-1 in Shawnee.

The Rangers got the first lead of the game from a Tyler Garcia homerun which was the lone run of the game for the Rangers. The second and final hit from the Rangers was from centerfielder Jake Darrow. 

Pitching was led by Scott Creedon who went five innings giving up three runs on six hits along with walking two while striking out five. He was relieved by Rafael Lara who went two innings giving up one run on two hits with three walks. Jacob Uhing relieved Lara giving up three runs in his inning.

Northwestern jumped out to a lead in the top half of the third inning when Garcia stepped up to the plate in a 0-0 game. He would launch one to left field for his first homerun of the 2020 season giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead.  

The Bison however would waste no time answering, as in the bottom half of the third inning Joey Pledger of OBU hit a solo shot evening the score at one a piece. 

The score would stay tied 1-1 as Creedon would escape a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the 4th to keep the game tied. 

The Bison would strike again in their half of the 5th after a leadoff double got the inning started, they would get another double driving in the run followed by an RBI single to extend their lead to 3-1 They had runners on the corners but Creedon was able to escape any further damage.

Rangers would turn the ball over to Lara for the sixth. The Bison would load the bases on him but that would be all as with one out he forced back to back popups to end the inning with Northwestern still trailing 3-1. 

OBU would start the their half of the 7th inning with back-to-back doubles to score a run and extend their lead to 4-1. With a runner on third looking to score more Colton Whitehouse had other thoughts making a diving catch in right field to end the inning.

Jake Lipetzky pitched a complete game for the Bison only allowing the homerun to Garcia and would then retire 19 straight batters to close the game out.

With the loss the Rangers drop to 5-8 on the season and 3-1 in Great American Conference Play. The Rangers will be back in action Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader to wrap up the series with Oklahoma Baptist. The first game will feature the first pitch at 1PM with the second game following around 4PM.