ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern opened a four game series against Northwest Missouri State Thursday afternoon as the Rangers took the opening game 11-4. The Rangers used a dominating second inning to take a 6-0 lead. The Rangers never trailed in this game, closing out the victory with a four run fourth inning to follow.
The Rangers improved to 2-3 on the season and a perfect 2-0 record in Alva.
The Red-and-Black had three players with two hits each to lead the team while Hagen Barcello led the team with 3-RBI's in the win Thursday. The Rangers had four players with two runs each.
Cole Rodgriguez had his first start of the season throwing six innings allowing two hits with no runs scored earning his first win with the Rangers. Jacob Mcmahan, Zac McEachern, and Henrique Date helped close out the win in relief.
After a scoreless first inning as both teams faced the minimum thanks to a 6-3 double play, Northwestern's offense struck in the second inning. Following a leadoff walk and a single Hayden Priest delivered following a sacrifice bunt with a single to right field scoring Grace and Holdren. Saire bunted home Priest for a 3-0 Rangers lead before a Joseph Frisby single to left field and a Barcello double to left center pushed the Ranger lead to 6-0 scoring six runs in the inning.
The Bearcats pushed a runner into scoring position following a stolen base but a strikeout helped the Rangers out of it holding their 6-0 lead. The game remained that way into the bottom of the fourth inning when the Red-and Black bats struck again. With runners on second and third Holdren came up with a big two out hit, ripping a 2-RBI double into right field for a 7-0 lead over the Bearcats. Colby Grace followed with a two-run home run to right field for a 10-0 lead over Northwest Missouri.
Northwestern still held a 10-0 advantage into the seventh inning before the Bearcats offense scored a couple runs back. After an error and a single the bases were loaded. Northwest Missouri took advantage of a groundout to score one run before a Koski single to center field made it two runs in the inning. The Rangers defense prevented a third run as Saire threw the runner out at the plate trying to score keeping the Ranger lead at 10-2.
Each offense struck in the 8th inning as Northwest Missouri tacked on two more runs with a couple of singles trailing 10-4 after their half of the 8th inning. Shaughn Kelly was hit by a pitch before stealing second and coming around to score on a Barcello double, his second RBI double of the afternoon.
After a leadoff single a strikeout followed by a double play closed out the 11-4 victory for the Rangers, the second straight win.
Northwestern will play game two of the series Friday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 PM at Glass Family Field at Myers Stadium.
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