ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Southeastern Oklahoma State completed the three game sweep over the Rangers following a 6-3 victory and a 7-5 win as two Ranger comebacks fell short bringing the tying run to the plate in both games.
GAME ONE:
Southeastern jumped on the board early in this one as the Savage Storm started the game with two straight singles setting up first and third. They got their first run on a double steal as Creed came around to score for the game's first run. The Rangers went down in order in the first inning after a couple of strikeouts.
The game remained 1-0 into the third inning as the team's traded runs. Scoring first was the Savage Storm after a leadoff single, Morrow drove him home from third on an RBI single after Bonstrom advanced on an error and a wild pitch.
Stiles started the inning with a double to leadoff the inning before Saire drove him in on an RBI single to center field scoring the Rangers first run trailing 2-1. Southeastern led the next inning off with two baserunners following a single and a hit batter. Collins was able to work around the jam after a pick off and a strikeout.
The Rangers had two hits as well on singles by Gavin Mendoza and Jon Shaffer after loading the bases on a Stiles walk, Southeastern was able to escape the jam.
Jacob Shaw entered the game in the fifth inning retiring the Savage Storm in order with six straight to start his day picking up two strikeouts. Rangers continued to trail 2-1 into the seventh inning when Southeastern extended their lead. After a two out walk to Rice he would come around to score on an RBI triple by Burroughs.
Savage Storm continued to add to their lead in the 8th and 9th inning as Creed hit an RBI single into shallow right field to extend the lead to 4-1. The Storm lead grew to 6-1 as an RBI bunt single pushed across the game's fifth run before an RBI walk made the game 6-1.
Northwestern's comeback attempt fell short in the ninth inning as with runners on second and third Bryan Guerrero hit a 2-RBI double scoring Shaffer and Beiswanger to cut the deficit to 6-3. Southeastern brought Langford in who got three straight outs to close out the game two victory clinching the series win.
GAME TWO:
Southeastern kept the momentum from game one into the second game putting a five spot on the board to start the game. The inning started with four straight hits as back to back singles led to the first run of the game. The Rangers did make the out a third. Back to back doubles after the single brought in the second run of the inning as the Rangers trailed 2-0. A double and two singles made the score 4-0 before an RBI walk had the fifth run as the Savage Storm went on to lead 5-0 after the first.
Matthew Potts came in and threw a scoreless second and third inning as the game remained 5-0 into the fourth inning. The Savage Storm added a run in the fourth inning after the leadoff man reached base safely after getting hit by a pitch. Two singles and a fielder's choice pushed the game to 6-0 before the Rangers ended the inning.
The Rangers got on the board in the fifth inning as Sachen led off with a walk before a Jon Shaffer single had first and second nobody out. Hayden Priest continued the rally with a single to score the Rangers first run. Northwestern continued with their fourth straight hit as a Guerrero double scored a run. Brandon Holdren doubled to left center to score Guerrero and Priest as the Rangers cut the deficit to 6-4.
Southeastern got one run back in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly to make the game 7-4. In the seventh and final inning the Rangers brought the tying run back to the plate but the comeback fell short. Saire led off with a single as Holdren followed. With runners on first and third Mendoza hit a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 7-5.
The Savage Storm escaped further damage, getting Sachen to pop up for the third out of the inning as Southeastern picked up the series sweep over the Rangers.
Northwestern will be back in action against East Central for a three game series in Ada, Oklahoma on Friday and Saturday, April 7th and 8th for the next conference series.
