ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State closed out their three game series with Harding Saturday. The Bisons picked up a series sweep, after a grand slam put the Bisons up 9-3 in game one before closing out the win. In game two a five run second inning helped lead to an 11-2 win.
The loss drops the Rangers to 13-18 on the season with a 6-12 conference record.
GAME ONE:
The Ranger offense was led by Shaughn Kelly going 4-4 with 3-RBIs including two home runs in game one of the doubleheader. Hagen Barcello and Trevor Saire each had three hits in the game as well. Barcello and Brandon Holdren finished with 2-RBIs.
Will Kates started game two of the series for the Rangers before being relieved by Justin Dunlap, Jacob Shaw, and Connor Gibson.
In the first inning after Harding put two runners on Kates forced Harding into an inning ending double play hit to Kelly at short. In the bottom of the inning Kelly got things started for the Rangers on a solo home run to left center field for an early 1-0 lead.
Harding answered in the top of the second inning with their own solo home run from Newsom to tie the game at 1-1. Harding added four more runs in the third inning on two different two run home runs to take their first lead of the game at 5-1.
Northwestern was able to score two runs back in the bottom of the inning. After a leadoff walk by Kelly, Barcello ripped a triple scoring Kelly. He was followed with an RBI single by Holdren to cut the deficit to 5-3 through three innings of play.
Harding, however, answered back with four runs as a walk, hit batter, and a single set up the big hit for the Bisons. Doyle stepped up and hit a grand slam to push the Harding lead to 9-3. Rangers did not go down quietly though as Harley Shaffer hit a one out double before Kelly hit his second home run of the afternoon to bring the Rangers back within four trailing 9-5 through four innings of play.
As both teams kept answering back they did so in the fifth inning as well. Dewald drew a one out walk before McNeel hit a 2-run home run to put Harding in front 11-5. Northwestern pushed a few base runners on in the fifth inning looking to get back in the game but Harding was able to escape the inning with no damage allowed. A Bisons walk helped lead to a run in the sixth inning on a 2-run home run by Helms pushing Harding out to a 13-5 lead. The game remained 13-5 until the 8th inning when Harding added a couple more runs.
A leadoff double led to an error and an RBI double scoring two more runs for a 15-5 lead. Hayden Priest led the Rangers half off with a single before Kelly singled, setting up a 2-RBI single by Barcello and an RBI by Holdren as the Rangers cut the deficit to 15-8.
The game went final with that score 15-8 as the Bisons worked around a single in the ninth inning. The win gave Harding the series win heading into the final game of the series.
GAME TWO:
Harding jumped out early in game two of the day with a leadoff home run by Smith to start the game for a 1-0 lead. Rangers went in order before the Bisons were able to put a five spot in the inning.
Helms started the inning with a double before stealing third. McNeel then singled him home for a 2-0 lead. After a double to set up a second and third Johnson singled to right center extending Harding's lead to 4-0. After a double and a single for five straight hits in the inning, Harding took a 6-0 lead after their part of the inning.
Gavin Mendoza led the second inning off with a double to right field before Trevor Saire followed with back to back doubles for the Rangers first run. That was all the Rangers could score in the inning trailing 6-1 through two innings of play.
Dylan Collins retired the Bisons in order in the third inning before Harley Shaffer was able to bring the Rangers one run closer on a solo home run to right field. Harding led 6-2 through three innings.
The Bisons kept their momentum in the fourth inning as a walk and a single started the inning before a Johnson double scored a run bringing the score to 7-2. Martinez followed with a two run home run to make the game 9-2 in favor of Harding.
After a leadoff walk and a stolen bae Dewald hit a 2-run home run to take an 11-2 lead over the Rangers. Harding kept the Rangers scoreless as the game stayed 11-2 through five innings.
Both teams picked up a hit in the sixth inning but the score remained 11-2 heading into the seventh inning. Harding closed out the victory with a 1-2-3 seventh inning to pick up the sweep over the Rangers Saturday.
The Rangers will travel to Oklahoma Panhandle State in Goodwell Oklahoma on Tuesday for a midweek non-conference game before hosting Southeastern Oklahoma State next weekend with one game Friday before a doubleheader Saturday.
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