DURANT, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern's six game conference win streak was snapped Saturday afternoon following an 8-6 loss to the Savage Storm. Southeastern used a five run second inning to take control and the first lead of the game in which they would not lose.
The loss drops the Rangers to 9-10 on the season with a 6-4 conference record as the Savage Storm improve to 17-4 on the year.
Northwestern's offense was led by Shaugn Kelly with three hits on the afternoon along with two runs scored. Hayden Priest and Brandon Holdren led the team with 2-RBI in the game with Blake Hoffman having the fifth. Northwestern had three hitters each with one hit.
Emilio Lovato got the start Saturday in game one throwing five innings striking out five. Cade Phelps threw in relief throwing three innings striking out three in the game.
The first inning the Rangers had a one out walk by Yugo Hamakawa before Southeastern escaped with no runs allowed. Lovato answered back with a scoreless first inning as well following a walk on a one out double play ball.
In the second inning Southeastern opened the scoring with a solo home run by Rice to put the Savage Storm on the board with a 1-0 lead. Following a walk and a double a single back up the middle scored both runs to take a 3-0 lead over the Rangers. Herd followed with a triple to center scoring a run for a 4-0 lead. The last run came across with an RBI groundout taking a 5-0 lead through two innings.
In the third inning Kelly singled to start the inning and a Hamakawa fly out ended their half inning. Lovato followed with a shutdown inning in the third. The game stayed 5-0 until the fifth inning when the Savage Storm extended their lead. The home team took advantage of having their first two runners reach base safely on a single followed by a walk. With runners on second and third a 2-RBI single by French extended their lead to 7-0.
The sixth inning Southeastern added one more following a single sacrifice bunt led to an RBI single by Ware for an 8-0 Storm lead. Cade Phelps threw in relief for the Red-and-Black as the game stayed 8-0 into the eighth inning when the Rangers attempted their comeback.
Northwestern's half of the eighth started with a walk followed by a double. Holdren drove the first run home with an RBI single to left field, scoring Bryan Guerrero. This was followed by an RBI groundout by Hoffman cutting the deficit down to six.Hamakawa came around to score on a Storm error as the Rally ended there with an 8-3 score.
Phelps worked around a double in the 8th inning to hold the game at 8-3. Northwestern's offense struck again in the ninth inning as the comeback bid continued. Joseph Frisby got things started with a single followed by a Kelly single. Holdren drove in another run with an RBI single to left center, moving the runners to the corner. Priest stepped up with the bases loaded hitting a single to right center to cut the deficit down to two runs at 8-6. The Savage Storm ended the game on a flyout to end the Rangers rally.
Northwestern will be back in action Sunday for a doubleheader to close out the series with Southeastern. The first game is scheduled to started at Noon with the second game first pitch following 30 minutes after game one.
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