ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball jumped out fast in the final game of the three game series as the Rangers used a nine run first inning to take control of the game before taking game three and winning the series over the Tigers. Northwestern closed out the series with a 16-5 win for the fourth consecutive series victory over Ouachita. 

The win evens the Rangers conference record at 9-9 with the win and the overall record to 13-15. The Tigers drop to 17-11 with a 12-6 GAC record. 

Northwestern's offense was led by Yugo Hamakawa going 5-5 at the plate with a 4-RBI day along with three runs scored. Brandon Holdren was tied with four RBIs, had three hits and two runs scored. Shaughn Kelly had two hits and led the team with four runs scored. 

Emilio Lovato threw five innings picking up the victory striking out two allowing two earned runs. Cade Phelps relieved Lovato, throwing two innings striking out one. 

Northwestern's offense struck in the opening inning. The Tigers got a hit in the first but Lovato worked around the hit leaving two runners on before the Rangers opened the game with a nine spot in the first. 

Kelly started the game with a double down the left field before Hamakawa had his first hit of the day with a double to right center putting the Rangers on the board for a 1-0 lead. The inning continued as Holdren followed with a two run home run to center field bringing in Hamakawa for a 3-0 lead. Following the first out of the inning Koenig singled to right before Priest stepped up with the second home run of the inning for a 5-0 lead. Gavin Mendoza drew a one out walk as Chase Orrock hit the teams third two-run home run of the inning for a 7-0 lead. Hamakawa came up for a second time in the inning as he delivered a two out 2-RBI double to right center as he continued to extend the lead to 9-0. The inning ended there as the Rangers opened the game strong. 

Lovato pitched a scoreless second inning to hold the momentum in favor of Northwestern as the teams traded zeros in the inning. The Tigers offense struck in the third getting on the board with a two run third inning. After a fielding error and a walk Ouachita was able to take advantage of those two runners as a double in the gap allowed both runners to come around and score to cut the deficit to 9-2. 

Northwestern answered back though with one run in the third inning after starting it with two singles and a hit batter to load the bases. Blake Hoffman was able to drive in one run on a fielder's choice ground out. 

The red-and-black were able to continue to tack on runs in the fourth inning after Lovato shut down the Tigers in their half of the fourth. Kelly started the rally drawing a walk before Hamakawa hit his third double of the afternoon putting runners on second and third before a Holdren single tacked on two more runs to take a double digit 12-2 lead over the Tigers. 

In the fifth inning Ouachita was able to break through again with a three run inning, their largest of the day, to cut their deficit to 12-5 at seven runs. The inning was started on a solo home run by Burris before two singles and a walk pushed home two more runs for the fifth run of the day. 

Northwestern came back with a two spot in their half of the fifth inning as Gavin Mendoza hit a solo home run with two outs for his second of the season. Orrock drew a two out walk before coming around to score on a Tiger error. 

In the sixth inning after Phelps came in and pitched a scoreless sixth inning Hamakawa started the sixth with a solo home run putting the Rangers back up by 10 runs. Holdren doubled later being moved to third by Hoffman as Koenig hit a sacrifice fly to push across the 16th run of the afternoon. 

Phelps closed the game out in the seventh, retiring the Tigers in order as the Rangers picked up the game three victory in seven innings 16-5 to win the series over Ouachita. 

The Red-and-Black will return to play on Tuesday as the Rangers travel to Goodwell to a mid-week game against Oklahoma Panhandle State. The Ranges will resume conference play April 1st through 2nd for a home three game series against Southern Nazarene.