ALVA, Okla.- Northwestern Oklahoma State opened their final regular-season series against Southern Arkansas on Friday. The Muleriders were able to take both games against the Rangers on Friday night, winning an offensive battle 13-10 taking advantage of a seven-run inning. Southern Arkansas was able to win game two from a four-run second inning.
The Rangers fall to 25-14 on the season 20-12 in Great American Conference play, while Southern Arkansas moves to 27-12 with a 23-9 conference record on the year.
GAME ONE:
The Rangers offense was led by Marques Paige, finishing the afternoon with three hits on the day tied with Blake Hoffman for the team lead in game one. Jake White and Grant French followed with two hits. Thomas Beiswanger, Yugo Hamakawa, Daschal Johnson, Dylan Norsen, Chase Orrock had a hit each. Paige led with 5RBI, followed by Hamakawa with two each delivering a two-run home run. Johnson, French, and Norsen each had one RBI.
Scott Creedon got game one start for the Red-and-Black, throwing three innings, allowing seven runs (6ER) while striking out three. Emilio Lovato threw two innings, allowing two runs while striking out one. Koby Spicer went 2.2IP, giving up one run. Kaleb Honea pitched 1.1 innings allowing three runs, striking out three in the inning of work.
In the top of the first inning, Southern Arkansas threatened to score, moving runners on the corners before Creedon would escape the jam holding the Muleriders scoreless. The Rangers would get a hit back but would not score.
The scoring would begin after a scoreless second inning the offensive parade would start in the third. The Muleriders would get the leadoff man on, and following a stolen base, he would score on an RBI single. He was then followed by four straight home runs to give the visitors a 6-0 lead at the time. After a two-out double to extend the inning, a Rangers error would give the Muleriders their seventh run of the inning for a 7-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Rangers would start to climb back into the game. Orrock and White would start things off with a single; following a Hamakawa walk, the Rangers had the bases loaded with one out. Johnson's walk would force the first Northwestern run across the plate. Paige would follow with a 3RBI double into left-center field, bringing the Rangers back within three. French would double home the last run of the inning, scoring Paige.
Lovato would throw a scoreless fourth inning; the Rangers would answer to tie the game back at seven. White would draw a walk in the inning before Hamakawa would blast a home run to left field to tie the game.
The game would not stay tied for long following a leadoff double for Southern Arkansas. Peterson answered back with a 2-run home run to give the Muleriders the lead back at 9-7 in the fifth inning. The Muleriders would then extend their lead to 10-7 on a solo home run from Jacob Martinez.
The game would stay 10-7 until the seventh inning when Paige would deliver a two-run home run to left field to bring the Rangers deficit to 10-9. Norsen would tie the game on a single back up the middle to even the score at 10-10 as Hoffman crossed the plate.
Spicer and Honea would combine to pitch a scoreless eighth inning before the Muleriders would take the lead back in the top of the ninth inning on a three-run home run to the right field to take a 13-10 lead. Rangers would threaten in the bottom of the ninth inning with back-to-back singles in the ninth before Sosa; the Muleriders closer would finish the game one win for the visitors.
GAME TWO:
Ethan Swanson got the ball to start the second game for the Rangers, throwing 4.2 innings of work, allowing seven runs on nine hits while striking out three. Connor Gibson would throw 2.1IP, striking out five Muleriders hitters.
The Rangers' offense was led by Dylan Norsen, Daschal Johnson, and Chase Orrock, each completing the game with two hits throughout the game. Norsen led the team with 3RBI, followed by Johnson having the last RBI.
Southern Arkansas would get a leadoff single and a stolen base from their leadoff hitter Baker before getting knocked in from an RBI double from Morris. Rangers would have a runner reach second after Johnson stole second; however, he would not come around to score.
The Muleriders would add to their one-run lead in the second inning with a leadoff single followed by a 2-run home run by Peterson to extend the visitors' lead to 3-0. Southern Arkansas would score another run following a bases-loaded walk forcing the next run in. The visitors added their fifth run on a sacrifice fly.
The Red-and-Black answered back with two runs in their half of the inning after a leadoff walk. Norsen would step up and deliver a two-run home run putting the Rangers on the board bringing the deficit to 5-2.
The Muleriders, though, responded quickly, adding a run to their lead in the third inning on back-to-back doubles to start the inning from Muldoon and Peterson for the RBI double. The Rangers would continue their comeback push with two runs in the third inning, first on a Johnson solo home run before Norsen would drive in a run with an RBI single, scoring Paige bringing the deficit to 6-4.
Both starting pitchers continued to battle through the game tossing a scoreless fourth inning for each team.
In the fifth inning, the Muleriders would add to their lead following a leadoff walk. Morris would deliver an RBI triple to right field, extending the lead to 7-4. In the sixth inning, Muldoon would hit a solo home run to left field, bringing the Mulerider lead to 8-4.
The Rangers would threaten to score in the seventh inning, trying to mount a comeback with runners on second and third but were unable to score as their starter Womack finished off his complete game.
Northwestern will be back in action Saturday afternoon to close out the regular season against Southern Arkansas. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:30 PM, with the senior day activities taking place beforehand, beginning at 2:00 PM.
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