ALVA, OKLA - Northwestern Oklahoma State traveled to Wichita to start a four game road trip as the Jets used a pair of two run innings to gain momentum for a 5-4 victory over the Rangers. The loss snaps Northwestern's three game winning streak.
The Rangers now fall to 9-9 on the season and stay at 6-3 in conference following the non conference game Wednesday.
Brady Bowles received the start Wednesday, throwing three innings before being relieved by Ethan Swanson who threw four innings before Edwin Colon finished off the eighth inning.
On offense Joseph Frisby led the team in hits with two as five others each had one hit. Blake Hoffman led the team with 2-RBIs with Yugo Hamakawa and Shaughn Kelly each having one.
The pitching settled in early as the Rangers went down in order during the first three innings of the ball. On Newman's side they had a runner reach scoring position in the opening two innings but Bowles was able to escape damage each inning.
Newman's offense struck for two runs in the third inning after two hits a single and a double pushed second and third before a two out double by Hawks gave Newman a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
The Rangers answered back in the fourth though with a run following a Thomas Beiswanger single and a passed ball pushed him to second before a groundout by Kelly brought home Northwestern's first run of the game as the Rangers trailed 2-1.
The Jets though didn't waste any time striking back with a two run spot in the bottom half of the fourth inning following a one out double and a walk brought first and second. The Jets got their first run on an error before a groundout pushed home the fourth run as Newman led 4-1 through four innings of the game.
Northwestern went down quietly in the fifth before Swanson pitched a scoreless fifth as well in response after a two out double he worked around striking out the final hitter of the inning.
The Rangers fought in the sixth as the Rangers loaded the bases with one out in the sixth inning for Hoffman as the senior delivered a 2-RBI double to right center field cutting the deficit to 4-3 through six innings.
Northwestern would threaten in the seventh to tie the game having runners reach first and second with one out before a strike out and a lineout got Newman out of the inning with no damage.
Newman added an insurance run in the eighth after a leadoff double would come around to score on a single by Landstad pushing the home lead back to 5-3. The Rangers did not go away quietly though as a double followed by a single brought first and third with one out in the ninth as the Rangers had the tying run on first. A Hamakawa single pushed Bryan Guerrero home to cut the deficit back to one at 5-4. Kelly would reach base on a hit by pitch to load the bases but a deep flyout to left center field would end the game in favor of Newman.
Northwestern will return to action this weekend with a three game series vs Southeastern Oklahoma State in Durant as the Rangers continue conference play looking to extend their six game conference win streak.
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