MAGNOLIA, Ark. - After the Friday night cancellation, the Rangers were set to take on the #25 team in the country in Southern Arkansas. The afternoon was set for a doubleheader first game, a nine-inning game followed by a seven-inning game. In-game 1 the Muleriders would get the best of the Rangers winning 8-1. In the second game, the Rangers were able to outpitch the Muleriders winning with a 2-1 final score. The win was the Rangers' first one over Southern Arkansas since 2016.
Game 1:
Rangers finished the first game with one run on five hits, from five different players. Jake Darrow, Yugo Hamakawa, Bryce Donovan, Tyler Garcia, and Brock Randels. Hamakawa drove in the lone run for the Rangers in game one.
Grant French got the start in game one pitching 3.2 innings allowing three runs on two hits, with five walks and four strikeouts in the afternoon. Rafael Lara was first in relief allowing three runs on two hits. The final pitcher was Jacob Uhing going four innings allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
The game opened with both pitchers dealing each going three scoreless innings to start the ballgame.
The fourth inning is where Southern Arkansas took control of the game in their half of the inning. Brett McGee got things started with a home run with one out. After the Muleriders drew back to back walks then a single loaded the bases. The Muleriders with the bases loaded would score five more runs from there. The first one came on a walk, followed by a hit by pitch. Then back-to-back wild pitches would give the Muleriders a 5-0 lead. The sixth and final run of the inning would come on a single up the middle.
The Rangers would get one run back in the fifth with the bases loaded Hamakawa hit into a fielder's choice that would score the lone run for Northwestern.
Pitching would once again take over as both teams would combine for two scoreless innings bringing the game to the bottom of the eighth with the Muleriders out in front 6-1.
With a runner on first Martinez for Southern Arkansas would drive in two more runs, this time coming off a home run to left field to extend the Mulerider lead to 8-1 on the day.
The Rangers would go quietly in the ninth as the Muleriders closed out their victory with a 1-2-3 inning as Southern Arkansas won game one 8-1.
Game 2:
Rangers would pull off the win 2-1 while finishing the game with three hits. The hits came from Darrow, Donovan, and Brett Erickson each having one on the day. Brock Randels and Erickson scored the two runs for the Rangers. Darrow drove in both runs in game two that helped Rangers take game two.
Scott Creedon got the call to start game two for the Rangers. He answered the call in tremendous fashion, finishing the day with 6.1 innings allowing only one run on the day with three strikeouts. He was two outs shy of pitching his second complete game of the season. Kaleb Honea came in relief and got the final two outs of the game both on strikeouts. Creedon picked up his second victory on the season while Honea got his second save of the year.
The Muleriders had a chance to get to Creedon in the first with a runner on second in scoring position but Creedon would get the next two batters he faced one on a groundout while striking out the final batter of the inning.
Southern Arkansas would get a runner in scoring position again in the second inning but would leave him stranded on second in back to back innings.
The third inning the Rangers found some momentum. After Southern Arkansas retired the first seven Northwestern batters, Erickson changed things with a one-out double to right field. Darrow then came to the plate and drove Erickson in with an RBI single to left field to give the Rangers their first lead of the day at 1-0.
Creedon then retired the Muleriders in order in the bottom of the third keeping momentum with the Rangers.
Creedon and Southern Arkansas' staff of Abrego would continue to deal as the game would stay 1-0 until the final inning of the game.
Randels' would get things started by drawing a leadoff walk, which was followed by Jake White getting hit by pitch. After they advanced to second and third from a wild pitch, Darrow returned to the plate with a chance to widen the lead. He did that with a fielder's choice but it was enough to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead and pick up his second RBI on the day.
With one out in the bottom half of the seventh and Creedon two outs away from a complete game. McGee would hit a solo homerun to straightaway center field. Honea came into relief with one out. After walking the first batter he faced, Honea buckled down and got the next two hitters to strikeout swinging giving the Rangers the 2-1 victory.
With the split doubleheader, the Rangers are now 7-11 on the season and 4-4 record in conference. The rubber match will take place Sunday, March 1st with first pitch happening at Noon, as the Rangers look for the series victory.
