WEATHERFORD, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Baseball closed their 2022 season with a doubleheader sweep over the Bulldogs to take the series victory over Southwestern. The Rangers used a quick start in game one to take control leading to a 13-2 victory before in game two the Rangers used back to back three run innings to close the game out for an 11-10 win. 

Game one:

The opening game of the day was locked in as a pitcher's duel to start as the Rangers and Bulldogs could not get anything going to start the game as in the first two innings the game remained 0-0. 

It was in the third inning when the Rangers struck for a six spot to open the scoring in game two of the series. Brett Erickson got things started with a one out walk before Yugo Hamakawa moved him to third with a one out single. Blake Hoffman followed with a three run home run to left center putting the Rangers in front 3-0. 

The Red-and-Black did not stop there though after Dylan Norsen singled and Shaughn Kelly walked, Brayden Koenig drove in a run with an RBI double to go up 4-0. Frisby followed with a 2-RBI single putting the Rangers up 6-0 through three innings after Emilio Lovato did not allow a hit in the third. 

After the Rangers went down in order in the fourth inning the Bulldogs tried to get on the board with some runs back. They had three base runners reach safely but Lovato used a double play to escape a jam before a strikeout ended the fourth inning

The fifth inning both pitchers escaped a jam after allowing two hits in the inning as the Rangers left two on base while the Bulldogs would leave one baserunner. 

Northwestern's offense broke through one again in the seventh inning after a leadoff walk to Kelly Joseph Frisby drove him in with a two-out triple pushing the Ranger lead to 7-0. Bryan Guerrero followed with an RBI single scoring Frisby as the lead was extended to 8-0.

This time the Bulldogs answered back with two runs though, cutting the deficit back to six after an RBI double by Rice before a groundout later scored Rice as the Rangers led 8-2 through six innings. 

In the eighth inning the Rangers took advantage of a major Bulldog error as after the bases were loaded a single by Kelly pushed across one more run before a Bulldog error allowed the other two runners to score and an 11-2 Ranger lead. Hayden Priest scored on a wild pitch for the Rangers final run of the day to take a 13-2 lead. 

Connor Gibson worked around an error by striking out the side to complete the 13-2 win for the Rangers in eight innings to even the series at 1-1 heading into the final game of the season. 

GAME TWO:
Rangers picked up where the team left off in game one scoring two first inning runs. Northwestern drew two straight walks to start the inning, before Dylan Norsen and Shaughn Kelly hit back-to-back singles to open the 2-0 lead. 

Edwin Colon, the game two starter, struck out two in the bottom of the inning holding the Rangers 2-0 lead.

Northwestern added another one in the second inning on a solo home run by catcher Gavin Mendoza for a 3-0 Northwestern lead. With the Rangers holding a 3-0 lead in the third inning Southwestern broke for a rally opening up the Bulldogs first lead of the game. 

Two quick singles got the inning started before a double by Ortiz put Southwestern on the board trailing 3-1. The inning was not over though as Baxley followed with a 2-RBI single to tie the game at 3-3. A Reed single scored Baxley after a stolen base for Southwestern's first lead of the game at 4-3. 

The Red-and-Black quickly tied the game in the fourth inning after Kelly got the inning started with a double followed by Garrett Crone getting hit by a pitch. A Chase Orrock single tied the game at four. 

Southwestern though also responded right away as Ortiz drew a bases loaded walk to push across run number five before a Baxley sacrifice fly and a Bonventre single gave the Bulldogs a 7-4 lead through five innings of play. 

In the Rangers half of the fifth inning Yugo Hamakawa and Dylan Norsen singled to get the rally started before Kelly singled in a run to cut the deficit back down to two runs. Soto matched the Rangers run with an RBI single for the Bulldogs before Swanson escaped further damage, as the Rangers trailed 8-5 going into the sixth inning. 

Mendoza and Orrock led the inning off with a single and double to set up second and third with nobody out as the Rangers started their comeback. Brett Erickson singled to score a run to make it an 8-6 deficit. Hamakawa followed with a single bringing the game to 8-7. Koenig scored the final run on a fielder's choice, scoring Hamakawa to tie the game at eight going into the seventh. 

The seventh inning the Rangers answered back with three more runs as Joseph Frisby led off with a single. As Orrock stepped up with the bases loaded he was hit by pitch forcing in the go-ahead run. Erickson and Hamakawa both hit sacrifice flies to score run number 10 and 11 heading into the final frame of the game. 

After a leadoff double and walk, the Bulldogs set up a rally with the tying run at the plate. Vingochea doubled in both runs of the inning bringing the game to 11-10. Swanson forced a groundout followed by a strikeout to seal the 11-10 win for the Rangers. 

Northwestern completed the game two comeback sealing the series victory for the Rangers over Southwestern as the Rangers ended the season on a two game win streak and closed out with two straight conference series wins.