ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State opened their three game series Friday evening against East Central. The Rangers jumped out early with three runs followed by a nine run third inning to take control over the opening game.
The win improves the Rangers record to 7-8 overall with a 4-3 GAC record win the series opening win. The loss drops East Central to 1-14 on the year with a 0-7 conference record.
Northwestern's offense was led by Hayden Priest with four hits, four runs scored and six RBIs on the evening. Brayden Koenig led the team with four hits with Priest. Dylan Norsen finished the day with three-RBI two runs scored. Shaughn Kelly delivers four-RBI on the day including the final hit of the day with a 3-RBI double.
Emilio Lovato received the game one start throwing the first 4.1 innings of the game allowing seven earned runs striking out five. Tate Schuermann relieved Lovato by throwing 2.2 innings striking out four batters picking up his first collegiate win.
Northwestern opened the game strong following Lovato escaping a first inning jam after the Tigers worked two walks. In the bottom of the first inning the Rangers got first and second as Priest stepped up with two outs and blasted a three run home run to left field to give the Rangers an early 3-0 lead.
Lovato followed with a scoreless second inning as the Rangers would go down in order as the Rangers 3-0 lead held through two innings.
East Central would get one run back in the top of the third inning as with the bases loaded the Tigers would force a run in through a walk by Whitaker. Northwestern answered back with a nine run third inning. The innings started with three straight singles to load the bases for the Rangers. Norsen then delivered a bases clearing 3-RBI double into the gap to push the Ranger lead to 6-1. Joseph Frisby followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 7-1. Kelly then ripped a double through the left side as the Rangers extended their lead. With runners on second and third, Hamakawa hit a 2-RBI single as the Rangers continued to pile on the runs. Following Holdren's RBI and Priest's RBI in the inning the Rangers pushed their lead to 12-1 in the third inning.
In the fourth inning the two teams traded runs as a walk followed by a Sperry double cut the Tiger deficit to 10 runs. Guerrero would then deliver his first home run of the season putting the Rangers back eleven runs.
The Tigers offense then exploded in the 5th inning with a seven run inning on four hits. A hit batsman followed by a double delivered the first run of the inning. With the bases loaded later in the frame They would get back to back doubles to cut the deficit down to five at 13-8. Edwards then delivered the final RBI of the inning with a ground out as the Rangers lead was cut to 13-9.
Priest helped the Rangers waste no time in answering back, scoring two in the bottom of the inning as he crushed a 2-run home run to center field for his second of the game putting the Rangers back in front 15-9.
The two teams would trade scoreless innings in the sixth before the Rangers answered back to win the game in the seventh.
Priest started things off with a single into left field for his fourth hit of the game. Koenig followed with a single before a Norsen walk loaded the bases. With the bases loaded and the score holding 16-9 Kelly delivered a bases clearing double into right center scoring all three runners in Frisby, Norsen, and Koenig to end the game but the 10 run rule as the Rangers won 19-9 Friday night.
Northwestern wins the opening game of the series before setting up a doubleheader Saturday afternoon to close out the series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM on Saturday followed by the third game scheduled for 4:00 PM.
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