ALVA, OKLAHOMA - The Rangers hosted Northeastern State Tuesday afternoon coming from behind 4-0 to win 20-4 behind a 10 run fourth inning with five home runs for the ballgame. In the win Bradey Bejarano and Hagen Barcello led the way with 4-RBIs each.
Jacob Shaw pitched three scoreless innings in relief not allowing a hit nor a run along with three strikeouts earning the win. Overall the Rangers bullpen combined for four innings not allowing a hit with six strikeouts.
Northeastern State jumped out fast Tuesday with two runs in the top of the first inning. Rodden started with a one out single followed by a double. This setup a one out single to left field scoring two runs for a 2-0 Riverhawk lead early. After the Rangers went down in order Northeastern State extended their lead with an RBI double and later went in front 4-0 after their half of the third inning.
Bejarano helped get things started for the Rangers after getting hit by a pitch with two outs to keep the inning going for the Rangers. Paul Sachen followed with a 2-run home run to right center field to cut the deficit at the time in half to 4-2 in favor of Northeastern.
Jacob Shaw pitched a scoreless fourth inning in relief his first of three innings before the Rangers offense exploded in the fourth.With the bases loaded after a leadoff double by Holdren followed by two walks, Colby Grace forced in a run after drawing a walk. As the Rangers were down by one run an RBI single by Trevor Stiles along with a Riverhawk error allowed three runs to score as the Rangers took their first lead of the game at 6-4. Harley Shaffer kept the rally going with a single to center field, scoring Stiles. Shaffer was followed by a two-run home run by Bejarano for a 9-4 Ranger lead as the Rangers scored nine runs in the inning before an out.
After Sachen was hit by a pitch Barcello followed with his first home run of the afternoon. The 12th run for the Rangers and the 10th of the inning later scored on a wild pitch as the Rangers now led 12-4 after four innings.
Shaw followed by retiring the Northeastern side in order picking up a strikeout. The Rangers added to their lead in the inning after a Paul Sachen single along with an error on the throw allowed Bejarano to score for a 13-4 lead. Sachen stole second base before Barcello blasted his second home run of the game for a 15-4 lead. Gavin Mendoza then followed a Saire walk with his own 2-run home run for a 17-4 lead. The final two runs of the inning were scored on a Bejarano double to right center field, scoring Shaffer and Stiles.
Shaw ran into some trouble in the sixth inning after an error and a Freeman walk put the first two runners on base. However a double play followed by a strikeout escaped the inning with no damage allowed. The Rangers' 20th run of the afternoon was scored as Perkins hit one to third base after an error allowed Jarnagin to score.
Northwestern closed out the 16 run victory 20-4 after Justin Dunlap entered picking up two straight strikeouts before Jacob Fuller entered striking out the third and final batter of the inning.
The Rangers were now set for a three game series against Southern Arkansas as the Muleriders come to Alva starting with a doubleheader on Friday, first pitch at 3:00 PM before the series finale Saturday afternoon at 1:00 PM.
