ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball opened their three game series against Oklahoma Baptist Friday evening. Northwestern used a balance of good pitching and timely hitting for the 5-3 victory.
Northwestern improves to 12-5 on the season with a 4-3 Great American Conference record. Rangers improve to 2-3 now on the road.
Chad Green led the team with three hits, reaching base four times with a walk as well. Carson Wright scored three runs, While Paul Sachen led the team with 2-RBIs. The Rangers had four pitchers in the win led by Dawson Toborg throwing 3.2 scoreless earning the win before Cade Phelps and Jacob Shaw combined for the final two innings scoreless.
The Rangers struck first with an early first inning run after a single and a stolen base by Carson Wright led to an RBI triple by Paul Sachen driving in the game's first run. As Oklahoma Baptist looked to tie the score in the home half of the inning the Ranger defense came up big. With first and second, the third single in the inning was un harmful for the Rangers as Sachen made the play at the plate throwing out the tying run at the plate.
Northwestern continued to start the game strong with a run for the second straight inning as two straight singles to start the inning led to an RBI ground out. Garrett DeHaas threw his second straight scoreless inning to keep the Rangers out in front.
Oklahoma Baptist struck with their first run of the game after a walk and a single led to an RBI single by Schroeder scoring Lissade to cut the Ranger lead to 2-1. The Bison carried the momentum after a shutdown inning in the fourth before adding two more runs in the bottom half to take a 3-2 lead over the Rangers.
The 3-2 lead though was short lived for the Bison. Dylan Bradford got the Rangers inning started after reaching base before a single by Carson Wright led to an RBI double down the left field line, scoring Wright for the 3-3 game.
Northwestern once again scored in back to back innings as in the sixth inning a lead-off single by Colby Grace led to an RBI double to left field scoring Grace for the lead again this time at 4-3.
The score remained 4-3 in favor of the Rangers as Dawson Toborg came in throwing 3.2 scoreless before Cade Phelps came in the 8th inning. Northwestern extended the lead in the ninth inning as Carson Wright was moved to third after a Hagen Barcello double for second and third, before Paul Sachen drove in his second run for a 5-3 lead.
Jacob Shaw earned his fourth save of the season after picking up two strikes to start the ninth before a ground out closed out the game and the Rangers sealed the series opening victory.
Northwestern closes the series out on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM in Shawnee.
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