ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball closed out their opening conference series doubleheader to start conference play Friday with a split on the afternoon dropping game one 3-2 before winning the second game by a final of 5-3 after scoring in four straight innings.
Northwestern is now 9-2 on the season overall with a 1-1 conference record.
GAME ONE:
The Tigers looking to score first in the game had a lead-off triple to right center field but after a strike out for the first out led to a fly ball to center field but Trevor Saire threw out the runner trying to tag home for the third out.
The Rangers took the momentum into the bottom of the inning as Carson Wright hit a triple to right center leading to a Sachen's fielder choice scoring the game's first run before Saire singled in the second run of the inning for a 2-0 lead after the first.
Garrett DeHaas, the Ranger starter, took over the next few innings in a pitcher's duel. He retired eight straight through the third inning and did not allow another hit until the fifth inning striking out two batters in the game to that point.
Ouachita Baptist struck in the fifth inning as the Tigers tied the game in the inning. It started with a single to left center field eventually leading to a Bolin RBI single to left field followed by a double as the game was quickly tied at 2-2.
The Rangers, looking to strike back, loaded the bases after the first two batters got out and a walk-single-walk loaded the bases but the inning ended there with the game still tied.
The game remained tied until the 8th inning when Ouachita Baptist had a runner cross the plate after a one out walk led to a two out double down the left field line scoring Bedwell for the 3-2 lead over the Rangers.
In both the eighth and ninth inning the Rangers picked up a single but that was all the Rangers could have in the two innings as Ouachita Baptist was able to close out the win over Northwestern with a 3-2 victory.
GAME TWO:
In the second game of the day Northwestern scored in four straight innings to take a 5-3 lead and close out the win. Led by Dylan Bradord and Hagen Barcello each with two hits, Barcello led the team with a 2-RBI performance. Bradford, Colby Grace, and Trevor Stiles each hit an RBI in the win.
Ouachita Baptist was able to open game two with an extra base hit to the likes of the first game but once again, Ranger pitching was able to escape the hit with three straight out with no damage done this time by Matthew Potts.
Northwestern struck first again with a bottom of the first inning run after reaching on two straight errors leading to a Barcello single back up the middle scoring Bradford for the game's first run.
Theron Perkins led the second inning rally with a one out double that led to two runs after Stiles followed with an RBI single through the left side into left field for a 2-0 lead. Bradford later in the inning hit Stiles in with a two-out double to left field.
In the third inning Ouachita Baptist scored all their runs as a walk and a bunt single led to first and second before an RBI double by Allen scored their first run. This was followed by Bermudez's RBI single. The Tigers evened the score 3-3 after the top of the third inning.
The offense from Northwestern was ready to regain the lead as two straight singles, one by Paul Sachen the other from Trevor Saire led to a Colby Grace RBI single for three straight hits and the leading run at 4-3.
In the home half of the fourth inning the Rangers scored the final run of the game after a Bradford triple down the line led to a Barcello RBI single, his second of the game.
Northwestern pitching closed the door down in the final innings as Max McClain, Cade Phelps and Jacob Shaw each combined for three scoreless innings after the fourth innings. McClain picked up the win his first of the season before Shaw earned his second save.
The Rangers closed out the first conference win of the season over the Tigers. Northwestern closes out the series on Saturday with a single game starting with first pitch at Noon against the Tigers.
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