CLAREMORE, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State traveled to Claremore for a midweek game against No. 21 Rogers State. Northwestern fell 7-6 after Rogers State scored on a walk-off walk to seal the victory after the Rangers tied the game in the top of the ninth.
Rangers had three hitters lead the team with two hits each in Shaughn Kelly, Hagen Barcello, Trevor Saire. Barcello had two-RBIs while also throwing two scoreless inning. Will Kates started the game for the Rangers throwing 4.2 innings.
In the first inning after the Rangers went down in order, Kates worked around one out back to back singles by forcing a ground ball double play.
This pushed momentum to the Ranger side in the second inning after Colby Jarnagin reached safely after being hit by a pitch before Trevor Saire hit an RBI single back up the middle to take an early 1-0 lead. Saire later stole second getting in scoring position before Shaughn Kelly singled, pushing across the second run of the inning for a 2-0 lead. The Rangers held that lead through the next inning after Kates worked around two more hits using a strikeout to escape any damage.
Rogers State climbed back in the game following two runs in the third inning to tie the game at 2-2 after a double and a hit batter setup a 2-RBI single to left field for a 2-2 tie game through three innings of play.
Northwestern answered immediately though in their next half inning as a leadoff double by Saire led to a sacrifice fly by Thomas Beiswanger. Kelly drew a walk and stole second before a two run home run by Hagen Barcello for a 5-2 Ranger lead through four innings of work for Kates.
Rogers State struck for one run in the fifth inning with a hit batter before a double to centerfield cut their deficit to two runs. Matthew Potts helped the Rangers escape with no more damage done that inning coming in striking his only batter faced of the inning.
The Hillcats later tied the game in the sixth inning after a single led to a Mestas home run to left field tied the game at 5-5. Rogers State eventually took the lead in the seventh inning after loading the bases before Henderson drew a two out walk to force in the the sixth run for a 6-5 lead.
The game remained that way until the ninth inning as Kelly led off with a single up the middle. After Barcello got to third after reaching on a fielder's choice Jon Shaffer tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right field for a 6-6 game.
Rogers State had the answer in their half of the ninth after a leadoff double setup the eventual game winning run with an RBI walk off by Cheatwood for a 7-6 Hillcat victory .
Northwestern will be back in action on Friday evening with a first pitch at 6:00 PM starting a series with Oklahoma Baptist for a three game game series finishing with a doubleheader on Saturday.
