ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball dropped two games Saturday afternoon as Oklahoma Baptist took the series over the Rangers. In game one the Bison jumped out to a 5-2 lead through the first inning, before in game two had a complete game from Hamilton.
GAME ONE:Â
Oklahoma Baptist jumped out early offensively with a five run first inning. Started with the Bison loading the bases with one out. The Bison kept moving the base runners with singles as three different RBI singles and a wild pitch brought the game to 5-0 through the first half of the inning.Â
Northwestern answered back with two runs in the first inning. Kelly and Holdren reached on singles in the first inning before Gavin Mendoza hit them in with a 2-RBI single to cut the deficit to three.
Will Kates threw a scoreless second inning before the Rangers tacked on two more runs in their half of the second inning to bring the score to 5-4. Priest and Kelly hit back to back doubles before a single by Jon Shaffer scored the second run of the inning.Â
The Red-and-Black defense stepped up, helping Kates out of the third inning with one out. Kelly caught a line drive before throwing out the runner at second to escape with no damage done. Rangers had second and third with one out but were unable to tie the game as the score remained 5-4.
Oklahoma Baptist extended their lead in the fourth inning following a leadoff single Pruitt hit in Lissade with an RBI double to take a 6-4 lead. Holdren had the lone hit but was unable to score.Â
The teams traded zeros through the fifth inning as the Bison extended their lead in the sixth. Pruitt took advantage of an RBI opportunity following a wild pitch with an RBI single. Schroeder then hit a 2-run home run to take a 9-4 lead over the Rangers.
Northwestern got on the board again in the seventh inning with runners on first and third Koenig hit in Mendoza on a fielder's choice, as the Rangers then trailed 9-5.Â
The teams traded runs in the eighth inning after Self hit a 2-RBI single followed by the third run coming across on a Ranger throwing error. Northwestern answered back with two more runs scoring this time on a Saire double to center field.Â
 Oklahoma Baptist added one more run in the ninth before closing the 13-7 victory out over the Rangers to even the series at 1-1.Â
GAME TWO:Â
Dylan Collins worked around a one out walk to keep the game scoreless in the top of the inning before Shaughn Kelly led the inning off with a single but the Bison kept the game at 0-0 through the first inning.Â
Oklahoma Baptist scored first in the second inning after back to back singles with one out as runners were on first and second. Parga came through with an RBI single for the Bison to take a 1-0 lead.
The second game of the day was a pitcher's duel as Hamilton and Collins began to trade zeros each leaving a base runner on in the third. The Bison offense struck again in the fourth inning after Furrey reached with a leadoff single before Parga reached on an error allowing the second run to come across in the game. The Rangers were retired in order in the fourth.Â
Collins retired the Bison in order before the Rangers had Saire reach safely and stole second getting in scoring position. However Hamilton worked around it getting out of the inning keeping the game at 2-0.Â
Score remained 2-0 into the seventh and final inning as the visitors loaded the bases with nobody out scoring the third run on a sacrifice fly to left field. Hamilton struck out the side in the seventh inning as the Rangers dropped game two 3-0.Â
Northwestern will be back in action on Wednesday afternoon against Newman University for a midweek non conference game before traveling to Southern Nazarene for a conference series next weekend.
