ALVA, OKLA- The Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball team is set to open their 2022 campaign Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader against the University of Minnesota Crookston. Both teams are anxious to get on the field after the winter storm postponed Friday's opener to Sunday afternoon. The series will be a three game set starting Sunday at 1:00 PM finishing with Monday's game at 1:00PM.
 

The Rangers are coming off a successful 2021 season finishing fourth in the Great American Conference last season with a 26-15 record, and a 21-12 record in the GAC. 
 

The Red-and-Black will once again be led by head coach Ryan Bowen who enters his fifth season with the Rangers. Coach Bowen enters the year with an 84-79 record with the Northwestern program. He will be joined on staff for the season alongside Kasey Guinty, Matthew Bickford, Austin Thomason, and Kaleb Honea. 
 

Northwestern will be returning some key pieces for the 2022 season as wins leader Scott Creedon will be pitching another season for the Red-and-Black after finishing last year with a 6-3 record overall. Ethan Swanson will be back as well in the Rangers pitching staff as the Northwestern senior pitched the second most innings for the team a year ago along with leading the team in strikeouts. Northwestern will also bring back pitchers Connor Gibson, Emilio Lovato who both saw time out of the bullpen last season.
 

Leading the Ranger offense will be returning bat Blake Hoffman coming off an All-American season with the Rangers after finishing the season with a batting average of .443 to lead the team. Along with Hoffman will be Yugo Hamakawa after finishing the season third in total hits on the 2022 season. Joined in the infield with Hamakawa will be Jose Rubalcava and Thomas Beiswanger both saw time in the starting lineup last season at times. Northwestern's outfield will return Dylan Norsen who led the team with doubles last season with 12 on the year, alongside Chase Orrock who emerged as a last season starter after starting in the final six games of the season after finding much success. 
 

Northwestern will open their season on Sunday afternoon February 6th with a doubleheader starting at 1:00PM against University of Minnesota Crookston. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 26-12 season this past season as both teams are set to square off for their first game.