ALVA, Okla.- The Red-and-Black concluded their homestand on Sunday afternoon with a 10-9 victory over Harding University. The Rangers would use a three-run ninth inning for their second straight walk-off win off of a Preston Lonadier single to score Johnson taking the series win over Harding.
The win improves the Rangers record to 19-11 in the 2021 regular season, with a 15-9 conference record tied for fourth place in the Great American Conference.
Dillon Van Oosbree received the start for the Rangers, throwing one inning, allowing three runs on four hits. Austin Thomason threw in relief, throwing four innings, allowing three runs striking out three Bisons hitters. Grant French came in out of the bullpen following Thomason to throw three innings allowing two unearned runs striking out four batters. Kaleb Honea would allow a run in his one inning of work while picking up his third victory of the season and striking out two batters.
Thomas Beiswanger led off for the Rangers with three, hits two runs scored, and an RBI for the Red-and-Black. French finished the game with two solo home runs, with two walks in the game reaching base four times. Preston Lonadier followed with two hits, including the single to walk-off for the Rangers. Yugo Hamakawa, Parker Base, Daschal Johnson, and Blake Hoffman would all finish with at least one hit. Johnson led the Rangers with 3-RBI in the game off, his 3-run home run in the first inning.
The Bisons jumped out early in the final game of the three-game series, with three runners crossing the plate in their first-inning at-bat. Butterfield singles to right field and would be hit in with an RBI single from Kelly. Smith followed with an RBI double before scoring on a single to center field for a 3-0 Harding first-inning advantage.
The Red-and-Black would be ready to answer in their first inning at the plate. Beiswanger and Hamakawa would start things off for the Rangers, drawing back-to-back walks in the inning. Johnson would then deliver his second home run in as many days for a 3-run blast to right field to even the score at three-all.
Harding jumped right back out in front, with three more runs in their second inning at the plate. Chrisman got things started for the Bisons with a single to right field. Following a two-out walk, the visitors would hit three straight singles to plate three runs in the inning and regain the lead at 6-3 in the second inning. Northwestern would get one hit in their inning, but a double-play ball would allow Harding to escape without a run allowed.
The visitors would have a runner reach scoring position on a stolen base by Chrisman, but Thomason would escape any damage with the score holding 6-3. The game would stay this way until the bottom of the fourth inning.
In the fourth inning, the Rangers would make it a new game evening the score again with three runs. French would lead the inning off with a solo home run to the right field. He would be followed with back-to-back singles from Lonadier and Base before Beiswanger would hit Lonadier in with an RBI single to left field. Hamakawa would tie the game on a deep fly ball to center field that was caught on a diving catch from Harding's center fielder. The Hamakawa RBI made it a 6-6 game through four innings.
The game would stay even into the sixth inning when Harding would regain the lead. Chrisman would lead the inning off with a single. The next batter Heffley would reach on a fielding error to move two runners on base. Harding would get a triple from Smith for 2-RBI, giving Harding the 8-6 lead.
The game would stay 8-6 until the Rangers' half of the eighth inning as Grant French would deliver his second home run of the game to bring the Rangers back within one run.
However, the Bisons would answer back in the ninth with three singles in the inning, with the third one driving home an extra run for the visitors as Dover would pick up the RBI single to center field.
The Red-and-Black were ready to produce another big final inning. Trailing by two runs, the Rangers would have their first three hitters reach base safely with back-to-back singles followed by a Johnson walk. With the bases loaded Paige, would draw a walk bringing the Rangers back within one run off the RBI. Northwestern would tie the game in the ninth on a wild pitch thrown, allowing Erickson, who pitch ran for Hamakawa, to score to tie the game at nine. With the bases loaded following an intentional walk to French, Lonadier would hit a bunt single for the Rangers second straight walk-off win over Harding! Rangers would win 10-9 as Honea would pick up his third win on the season.
The Rangers completed the series win over the Bisons with the walk-off win. Northwestern will return to action on Tuesday, April 20th, against Oklahoma Panhandle State University on the road. Conference play will resume on Friday, April 23rd, in Russellville, taking on Arkansas Tech.
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