ALVA, Oklahoma- The Rangers continued their homestand Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader against the Bisons. Harding would use three home runs in game one for the 7-1 victory before the Rangers would take game two. The Red-and-Black would throw their first shutout since 2019 in game two, as Daschal Johnson would deliver a walk-off single in the eighth inning.
The Red-and-Black's record now is 18-11 on the season overall with a 14-9 Great American Conference record in fourth place. Harding now moves to 16-12 on the season and 12-11 in conference play in seventh place in the conference standings after the split doubleheader.
GAME ONE:
In-game one for the Rangers, Scott Creedon would receive the opening game start throwing eight innings, allowing six runs on ten hits with four strikeouts taking the loss. Emilio Lovato would throw in relief for the Rangers, throwing one inning, allowing one run on two hits.
The Red-and-Black offense would score one run on four hits, led by Daschal Johnson having two hits, a run scored, and an RBI on a solo home run in the seventh inning. Dylan Norsen and Blake Hoffman would have the other two hits for the Rangers in the opening game of the series.
The game started with both starting pitchers settling quickly; both pitchers would retire the first six hitters they would face. Creedon would throw two strikeouts in as many innings for the Rangers.
In the third inning, the Bisons would strike first, getting on the board with a two-run home run. Harding would have the leadoff man Stull single to left to start the inning as Perrett would hit him in on the home run to left field for the early 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning. Rangers would go down quietly in their half of the inning.
In the fourth inning, Harding would extend their lead. Following a leadoff double from Kelly for Harding, Smith would follow, for back-to-back doubles to give the visitors a 3-0 advantage in the fourth inning.
Harding would down quietly in the top half of the fifth inning before the Rangers would pick up their first hit from a single to left field by Hoffman. Rangers inning would end the inning following a double play on a sharp line drive hit to first.
The Bisons carried the momentum from the double play to lead off the sixth inning would a solo home run to left field to extend the visitors lead to 4-0. The game would stay with a score of 4-0 until the bottom of the seventh.
In the seventh inning, Daschal Johnson would put the Rangers on the board with a solo home run to left field for his fifth during the season.
Harding would answer back in their half of the eighth inning after Chrisman would reach on a single to right field; Heffley of the Bisons would hit him in with a 2-run home run to right-center field to take a 6-1 lead.
The Bisons would add an insurance run in the away half of the ninth inning with runners on first and second Chrisman would deliver an RBI single to right field, pushing the Rangers deficit to 7-1. Northwestern would have two runners reach in the ninth inning but would be stopped there with Harding forcing a pop-up to end game one with Harding holding on for the 7-1 victory.
GAME TWO:
Ethan Swanson, the Alva native, would take the ball for the game two start, throwing 6.1 innings, allowing one hit while striking out four with no runs allowed. Kaleb Honea would pitch in relief, throwing 1.2IP with three strikeouts earning his second win of the season. The shutout would be the Rangers' first shutout since the last time these two teams met in the 2019 season in the Rangers 5-0 win.
The Red-and-Black offense was led in hits by Grant French, who went 3-3 on the afternoon. Daschal Johnson went 2-4 in game two, including the game-winning single in extra innings to walk the Rangers off for the 1-0 win. Yugo Hamakawa and Preston Lonadier had the other two Rangers hits, which both came in the eighth inning.
Swanson settled in nicely for the Rangers, retiring the Harding side in order, by striking out the final hitter of the inning. Johnson would pick up a single in the home half of the inning moving runners on the corner, but Harding would escape any damage holding the score at 0-0 through the first.
In the second inning, the Alva native would force three groundouts to retire the first six Bisons hitters he would face. French would hit a leadoff single but would be left there for a 0-0 score through two innings.
In the third inning, Stull would produce a leadoff walk for the Bisons first baserunner of game two, but Swanson would hold them there, keeping the game at 0-0 through the first three innings.
After a Harding batter led the inning off by being hit by a pitch, Swanson would force a ground ball double play for four straight innings without allowing a hit. French would hit a single in the inning but would be left on first as there was still no score through four innings.
Swanson and Yakel, both starting pitchers, would continue to move through the orders as Swanson would retire six straight Harding hitters. The game would move to the seventh inning as Swanson would throw six consecutive innings without a hit given up.
The Alva native would finish the day with 6.1 IP without giving up a hit before Harding would deliver a single to center field. Honea would throw in relief with runners on first and second but would get out of the inning without allowing a run. French would have his third hit of the game in seventh, but the Rangers would not score, as game two of the doubleheader would be sent to extra innings.
Honea would strike out the side in the eighth inning before the Rangers would get a walk-off win in the home half of the inning. Preston Lonadier would start the 2-out Rangers rally with a single to left-center. Hamakawa would follow with a single down the left-field line. The senior in Daschal Johnson would deliver an RBI single to left field for the third straight Northwestern single to drive home Lonadier for the Rangers 1-0 victory splitting the doubleheader Saturday afternoon!
Northwestern will be back in action Sunday with the first pitch set for 1:00 PM in Glass Family Field at Myers Stadium for the rubber match with Harding University.
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