ALVA, OKLA- Ranger Baseball will open the 2022 Ranger Festival this afternoon with first pitch scheduled for Noon as the Rangers play host to New Mexico Highlands. The Rangers will play three games Friday through Sunday at Noon (FRI), 2:30 PM (Sat), and 3:30 PM (SUN).
 

The Rangers (1-3 overall and 0-0 GAC) will be coming off a loss Wednesday to Newman as the Rangers look to get back in the win column on Friday. Northwestern won their first game on Monday against Minnesota Crookston.

Northwestern has found their offense over the last three games scoring 22 runs in that time frame for just over seven runs per game. Shaughn Kelly leads the team in hitting with a .421 batting average through the opening four games of the season with eight hits in these games. He is followed by Yugo Hamakawa with an even .400 with four hits in 10 at-bats along with a .538 OBP%. Northwestern has seven players all tied with home run through the opening of the season. Dylan Norsen and Blake Hoffman lead the team with four RBIs. Kelly has stole the only Ranger base so far this season.

On the mound for Northwestern Kayden Whetstone and Emilio Lovato lead the team with seven strikeouts to start the season both in one appearance for the Rangers. Lovato picked up the win in his lone start to the season. Whetstone, Kyle Moran, and Edwin Colon all have given up 0ER in their outings for the Rangers. Colon picked up the save for Northwestern in the win over Minnesota-Crookston.

 

Scouting the opponent New Mexico Highlands:

New Mexico Highlands is coming off a two game series this past weekend dropping both games oen to Colorado State Pueblo followed by West Texas A&M University.
 

Through two games on the season Joe Kuhn leads the team in batting average along with Brandon Baier each going 3-6 in the two opening games. Estevan De La O leads the eam with 4 RBI with an average of .300. Kuhn and Baier each have two doubles on the season along with Eric Papas for the team lead.

Hunter Waugh and Angel Castillo received the two starts. Hunter Vancurler and Dominick Castillo both pitched scoreless innings for the Cowboys in their opening weekend. Waugh leads the team with four strikeouts in three innings of work.
 

History: 

This will be the first meeting between the two teams in the progams series history.