ALVA, Okla.- Northwestern opened the three-game series against East Central Saturday afternoon with a 6-5 loss in Ada, Oklahoma. East Central forced the Rangers to the bullpen early with three runs in the second inning and the eventual winning run in the seventh. 

Yugo Hamakawa and Marques Paige led the Rangers' offense in Saturday's game. Hamakawa would finish the afternoon with three hits and an RBI, while Paige would add two RBI with two hits in the game. Daschal Johnson and Jose Rubalcava would add the other Rangers RBI on the day. Preston Lonadier would reach base twice in four plate appearances, along with a stolen base on the day. 

Ethan Swanson would get the start in the series opener as he threw 1.2 innings as he allowed three runs (2ER) on four hits while walking four. Grant French would come in relief to throw 4.1 innings allowing two runs on five hits while striking out nine. The nine strikeouts for French would be his Ranger high as his previous was four last season. Connor Gibson would allow a run and three hits in 0.1 innings of work, as he took the loss in the series opener. Koby Spicer and Kaleb Honea would finish the game out for the Rangers. 

East Central received a big afternoon from Michael Rosario, finished with two triples and two RBI Saturday afternoon. The East Central leadoff hitter Hayden George finished with three hits and an RBI. 

Spencer Johnston would allow all five runs in 6.1 innings of work earning, a no-decision in the game. Jack Werran pitched a scoreless inning, and Will Isaly would finish the game for the Tigers as Werran would earn the win with Isaly getting the save. 

The Red-and-Black got off to a fast start Saturday afternoon with an early first-inning run. Norsen started the game with a double and would later score on a Johnson sacrifice fly to centerfield. Rangers would threaten to add more with runners on the corners, but Johnston would close the inning escaping further damage.

The Tigers would attempt to answer, drawing three walks in the inning along with a double. However, the Rangers defense would throw a runner out stealing, as Swanson escaped any damage holding the score at 1-0.  

Following a scoreless top half of the second, the Tigers' offense broke through. The home team would load the bases with nobody out. East Central would take advantage by scoring three runs without a hit. The Tigers would take advantage as they scored their first run off a balk, followed by a ground out and fly out to take a 3-1 lead over the Rangers. ECU would load the bases forcing Swanson out of the game as French came in and escaped further damage. 

The Rangers wasted no time answering back with a run in the third inning. Hamakawa led things off with a double and would score on a Paige sacrifice fly to left field. Northwestern would later tie the score at three with a Rubalcava single to left scoring Lonadier. 

East Central would regain the lead fast in the fourth after back-to-back leadoff singles Rosario for ECU would hit them in with a 2-out triple to center. The pitching would start to settle in in fifth with only one hit with zero runs for both teams through the next two innings. East Central would hold a 5-3 going into the final three frames. 

In the seventh, the Rangers struck twice to even the score at five, taking advantage of two walks earlier in the inning. Hamakawa would single to right scoring White. Then with runners on the corners for the Rangers, Paige would double to left as Norsen would score to even the score in the top half of the inning.

In the bottom half of the frame, Rosario would hit his second triple of the game as this one would leadoff East Central's seventh inning. Butler would then knock him in with a sacrifice fly to right field for the go-ahead run. 

Following a scoreless eighth inning, the Rangers looked to tie or go in front in the ninth inning following a leadoff double from Hamakawa. The Rangers would later load the bases with two outs in the inning before the East Central closer would escape the jam holding to the score at 6-5 for the East Central victory in game one of the series on Saturday afternoon. 

The Red-and-Black will be back in action Sunday morning for a doublehader to close out this road series against East Central in Ada, Oklahoma. The first game is set for 11:00AM with the second game short following the last pitch of game one. 

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