ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State had a mid-week game Tuesday against Oklahoma Panhandle State as the Aggies came back in the 8th inning with a four run inning taking a 12-9 lead over the Rangers before closing out a 12-10 win over Northwestern.
Northwestern falls to 16-8 on the season and is 8-4 in Great American Conference play. Northwestern drops to 13-3 at home.Â
Bradey Bejarano led the Rangers on offense going 4-4 from the plate scoring three runs and driving in two runs. Hagen Barcello, Porter Pittman, and Theron Perskins each drove in two runs as well.Â
Oklahoma Panhandle State started the scoring early with a solo home run to start the game to center field and take an early 1-0 lead over the Rangers. However the Rangers matched their leadoff home run with one of Northwestern's own as Pittman hit a solo home run to left center to tie the game at 1-1.Â
The Aggies continued their start on offense with another run in the second inning as two straight singles to start the inning led to an RBI double for the 2-1 lead. Northwestern once again answered back as Bejarano led with a single before a Perkins 2-run home run gave the Rangers their first lead of the afternoon at 3-2 through two innings of play.Â
After a shutdown top of the third inning, Northwestern extended the lead in the third as Carson Wright hit a solo home run to right field on the day he earned his second conference player of the week award. Northwestern added one more run on a Bejarano sacrifice to right field field for a 5-2 lead through three innings of play.Â
Oklahoma Panhandle State answered back though this time with two straight hits to start the inning for second and third before ground out and double cut the Ranger lead to 5-4. Northwestern answered back though, extending the lead scoring the fourth straight inning as Hagen Barcello hit a 2-RBI single before a Bejarano RBI single gave the Rangers an 8-4 lead through four innings of play.Â
The Aggies struck for three runs in the fifth inning as a walk led to a 2-run home run cutting the visitors deficit to 8-6 before an RBI single made it a one run game. Panhandle State tied the game in the sixth inning when Garcia singled to left, scoring Halton for an 8-8 tie game.Â
It remained that way into the seventh inning when Northwestern grabbed the lead back after a Bejarano leadoff single followed by a Chase Gordon double to right center and the Rangers having a 9-8 lead.Â
The lead did not last long as in the top of the 8th inning a three run home run by Garcia pushed the Aggies back in front at 11-9 before that was followed by a solo home run and a 12-9 lead over the Rangers.Â
The score stayed 12-9 into the ninth inning when Northwestern's comeback fell just short. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases. Pittman hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Bejarano to bring in one run and make it a 12-10 game. The Rangers loaded the bases once more after Wright was hit by a pitch but a foul out ended the game as the Aggies won 12-10.Â
Northwestern will be back in action on Friday against Arkansas Tech for a three game series against the Wonder Boys with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 PM.
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