MAGNOLIA, ARK-  Northwestern Oklahoma State opened the 2022 conference play with a double header vs #4 Southern Arkansas. The Mulriders used a fast start to game one with eight runs in two innings to take the first game, and would use a four run second inning to get on the board and take control in game two. 
 

With the two losses the Rangers drop to 3-6 on the season with a 0-2 conference record. While the Muleriders improve to 7-1 on the season for seven straight wins and a 2-0 conference record.
 

Game one: 

Cade Phelps received the first game start Saturday before being relieved by Connor Gibson, Matthew Potts, and Matt Nolan. Potts went the longest throwing four innings while striking out two. Northwestern finished with five hits, one from five different players. Hayden Priest, Shaughn Kelly, and Brayden Koenig finished with an RBI. 
 

Hoffman singled in the first but that was all the Rangers could get in the first before Southern Arkansas jumped out fast. The Muleriders would get two on with two out before Richardson blasted a three run home run pushing Southern Arkansas in front 3-0.

The Muleriders would score five in the second inning after loading the bases Nicoll hit a double to right field scoring two runs before Burton hit a three home run in the bottom of the inning to go up 8-0.
 

In the third inning Southern Arkansas extended their lead to 9-0 following a wild pitch. The Rangers would get on the board in the fourth inning with a home run from Kelly before Koenig would get an RBI on a ground out fielder's choice. The Muleriders would get one back in the fourth for a 10-2 lead. 
 

Priest would hit an RBI double following a double from Brandon Holdren to get another run back bringing the score to 10-3. Southern Arkansas would walk it off in the seventh for a the 13-3 win after loading the bases a walk followed by a single and a sac fly brought the Southern Arkansas win. 
 

Game Two:
Ethan Swanson got the start in game two for the Rangers throwing three innings  striking out six in the loss. Dylan Collins threw in relief throwing the final three innings of the game.
 

The game started with both pitchers dialed in as the Rangers struck out three straight in the top of the first inning before Swanson returned the favor by striking out the side in the bottom half of the first inning. 
 

The Muleriders got things started in their half of the second inning when they drew three straight walks before getting their first run on a hit batsman to take a 1-0. The home team would score three more runs on a wild pitcher, a walk, before a bases-loaded fielder's choice. Rangers would put four runs across for a 4-0 lead through two innings. 
 

Southern Arkansas would answer back with two more runs in the third inning following two steals, leading to an Orr RBI single pushing their lead to 5-0. The Muleriders would extend the lead to 6-0 on a wild pitch throwing error. Southern Arkansas would put one more on the board with a single by Martinez for a 7-0 lead. 
 

They would score their last run in the sixth with a leadoff single followed by a double to center field pushing their lead to 8-0. 

That would be the final score as the Muleriders topped the Rangers 8-0 sweeping the doubleheader. 
 

Northwestern will be back in action Sunday afternoon to close out the series with first pitch scheduled for noon.