Weatherford, Oklahoma - Northwestern opened their final series of the season Friday afternoon against Southwestern. The bulldogs used a quick two run first inning to jump start a 21-7 victory over the Rangers.
The Rangers went down without a hit in the first inning before Southwestern jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of then inning. It was sparked by Hamilton getting hit by pitch before a single and a double scored both runs for the early 2-0 lead.
Northwestern answered back quickly though in the top half of the second inning as Hayden Priest was hit with a pitch before a Joseph Frisby and Bryan Guerrero scored the Rangers first run with Guerrero picking up the RBI as the Northwestern trailed 2-1.
Southwestern came back with two more runs in their half of the second inning after a walk and single led off the inning before an RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly pushed across two more runs for a 4-1 lead through two innings.
The Red and Black went down in order before back to back home runs by Bonventre and Mullins pushed the lead to 6-1. After a Gonzales single, a Vingochea double scored the seventh run for a 7-1 lead over the Rangers through three innings.
Northwestern threatened to score in the fourth putting a runner on second but was unable to score Koenig. The Rangers closed the door in the fourth without allowing a run after Hayden Priest throughout Baxley trying to steal.
The Ranger offense struck in the fifth with a five run inning as a Brett Erickson single, Yugo Hamakawa and Chase Orrock singled to score one run as Orrock's picked up the RBI. This was followed by back to back home runs as a Hoffman three run shot followed by a Kelly solo made it 7-6.
Southwestern answered back with a six spot of their own after Larsen started things off with a single back up the middle. Gonzales followed with a single to right field as Larsen came around to score on a Ranger error. With a 8-6 Bulldog lead Vingochea singled to center field as Gonzales scored. Soto doubled to left field as Rice and Vingochea scored, pushing their lead to 11-6. Baxely followed with a home run to left center as Soto scored as well and Southwestern held a 13-6 lead through five innings.
Erickson singled back up the middle followed by Hamakawa getting hit by a pitch as the Rangers looked to start a comeback but a fly out to right field ended the inning.
Larsen started the bottom of the sixth inning with a single before a Gonzales home run made it to 15-6. The inning continued as Vingochea doubled followed by a Soto hit and a walk loaded the bases. Hamilton walked forcing in a run pushing the lead to 10. Bonventre hit a double in the gap to center field as three runs scored for a 19-6 lead. Vingochea singled back up the middle as Mullins and Bonventre scored for a 21-6 lead over the Rangers.
Northwestern drew three straight walks from Kelly, Koenig, and Priest. Frisby grounded out pushing a run across as the Rangers trailed 21-7. Southwestern closed out the win in seven innings as the Bulldogs won the series opener.
Northwestern will return to play to close out the regular season with a Saturday doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM with the second game shortly following.
