ALVA, Okla.- Northwestern Oklahoma State Baseball completed the conference opening series win Saturday afternoon with a 13-2 win in eight innings. The Red-and-Black used a fast start in this game scoring in the first three innings to take a 5-2 lead in which they would never lose.
The Rangers improve to 3-3 on the season with a 2-1 conference record, while Arkansas Monticello drops to 1-2 on the year and in conference play.
Northwestern was led by starting pitcher Austin Thomason throwing a complete game for the Rangers. He finished the afternoon with eight innings pitched, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out six. Thomason picks up his first victory of the season improving his record to 1-1.
The Red-and Black offense was well spread out in this series ending game. The team finished with sixteen hits, with Yuog Hamakawa leading the way with a 4-4 afternoon. Preston Lonadier finished with three hits on the day, followed by Brett Erickson and Jake White with two with a homerun from White. Dillon Norsen played the leadoff role well by getting on base four times with a single and three walks scoring three times. Lonadier led with 3RBI with Daschal Johnson and Hamakawa with two.
The Rangers once again playing the role as visitors in their home park after the series got moved would start things fast. Norsen led the game off with a walk followed by Hamakawa. With runners on second and third Lonadier started things off with a 2RBI double to give the Ragners a 2-0 lead scoring Johnson, who reached on a fielder's choice, alongside Norsen.
The Weevils wasted no time however answering back. Hopkins would hit a solo homerun to get things started for Monticello. Thomason hit a batter to extend the inning in which Arkansas Monticello would take advantage of with a single back up the middle to even the score at 2-2.
Northwestern once again made the Weevils leadoff work come back to haunt them After White led off with a walk followed by a Norsen single, Hamakawa would get his first of four hits with an RBI single put the Rangers back in front 4-2. Thomason would settle in after that first inning as he would not allow a hit in the second. Rangers forced the Weevils starter out of the game after the first two innings.
The Red-and-Black offense did not quiet down as Erickson got things started with a single then stole second putting himself in scoring position. He would then score on a passed ball giving the Rangers a 5-2 lead in the third. Monticello would go down quietly as the side was retired in order off of two Thomason strikeouts.
The Rangers 5-2 lead would hold through the next two innings into the sixth inning when the Rangers bats picked up once again. Hamakawa started things off with a double to left, then Johnson hit him in with an RBI single.
In the 7th and 8th inning the bats continued to strike against this Monticello pitching. With back to back singles to opening the seventh followed by an Erickson RBI double. White then hit a sacrifice fly bringing home another run. Hamakawa single extended the Ranger lead to 10-2.
Thomas Beiswanger started things off with a single then would steal second putting him in position to score. Lonadier singled in Beiswanger, then White would put the finishing touches on the game with a blast to left field with a two run homerun giving the Rangers the 13-2 run.
Thomason continued his stellar performance retiring the side in order to finish off the Ranger 13-2 victory in 8 innings.
The Rangers will be back in action traveling to Ada, Oklahoma for a weekend series against East Central. There will be a single game Friday at 2 followed by a doubleheader on Saturday.
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