ARKADELPHIA, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State Ranger baseball closed out their three game series with Henderson State Saturday afternoon. Henderson State scored seven runs in two innings to hold on for a 7-6 victory in game one before the Rangers exploded for nine runs in the final three innings in game two to steal the win on the road. 

GAME ONE:

Shaughn Kelly led the Rangers in game one with three hits including three RBI's and his sixth home run of the season. Brandon Holdren was second with two hits in the game. Brayden Koenig, Thomas Beiswanger, and Bryan Guerrero each had an RBI in the loss. 

Blake Hoffman received the game one start before being relieved by Ethan Swanson who threw seven innings striking out ten Henderson State hitters while receiving a no decision in the game. 

The Rangers tried to get things started early with two hits and a walk in the top of the first but Henderson State escaped the inning with no damage done. Henderson State rode the momentum into the bottom of the first scoring five runs in the inning. It started with a walk followed by three straight hits including an RBI single followed by an RBI double before a single and an error drove the final two runs of the inning. The Reddies took a 5-0 lead through the first inning. 

The second inning started with a walk for the Reddies, before a two run home run extended Henderson State's lead to 7-0 before Swanson got the next three hitters out.

Northwestern did not go away though as Bryan Guerrero got the scoring started for the Red-and-Black with a solo home run to center field his second of the season. After Swanson kept the Reddies at seven runs after the third the Rangers had a big fourth inning. 

The fourth inning started with a walk by Hayden Priest followed by back to back singles as a Beiswanger single cut the deficit to 7-2. With runners on the corners Shaughn Kelly then hit a three run home run to left center making it a 7-5 game in the fourth inning. Swanson retired the Reddies in order, striking out the final two batters of the inning. 

The Rangers then had one more cross the plate in the fifth cutting their deficit down to one, scoring six unanswered runs. Holdren walked before a single and bunt put runners on second and third. A Koenig ground out pushed across the sixth run. 

The Rangers would put the tying run on base twice in the final four innings including in scoring position in the ninth but were unable to push him across as Henderson State held on for a 7-6 victory two clinch the series win over the Rangers.

GAME TWO:
In the second game of the day the Rangers were led by Yugo Hamakawa having three hits and a four-RBI game both being team highs in the win. Hoffman hit his team leading seventh home run for his 2-RBIs in the game. 

Dylan Collins took the ball to start the game, throwing four innings striking out five Henderson hitters before Edwin Colon threw in relief for four innings striking out two while not allowing a run picking up the win. 

Neither team could get the scoring started in the opening inning of game two as both pitchers held each team hitless. 

Henderson State opened the scoring in inning number two following the Rangers going down in order. A leadoff single followed by a Haskins hit by pitch put two runners on with nobody out. Carroll followed with an RBI single followed by a Fullerton RBI single as the Rangers trailed 2-0 through two innings.

Rangers were unable to get things started in the third as they remained hitless through the first three innings of play. Collins would work around a jam in the bottom half of the inning. Hamakawa had the team's first hit in the fourth but would not be able to score. 

The offense would break through in the fifth inning for three runs. Guerrero got things started with a single following a Beiswanger walk. Kelly followed with a 2-RBI triple to tie the game at 2-2. Hamakawa singled home Kelly to take the first lead of the game at 3-2. 

Henderson State was able to tie the game quickly though following a leadoff walk. Stevens singled followed by a Haskins double to score Reddies third run of the game to tie the score at 3-3. Colon was able to escape further damage keeping the game tied. 

After two scoreless frames the Rangers answered in the 8th inning with a six spot. Holdren started the inning with a leadoff walk before a Hoffman two-run home run put the Rangers in front 5-3. Hayden Priest came around to score later in the inning on a fielder's choice and Henderson State error. Hamakawa then cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double in the right center gap to give the Rangers a 9-3 lead over Henderson State. 

Colon closed out the victory for the Rangers taking the last game of the series with nine runs from the fifth inning forward. Colon worked around a leadoff single before ending the game on a ground out to first.

The Rangers will return to action on Tuesday for a non conference midweek game against Emporia State before returning home for a weekend series against Ouachita Baptist.