EMPORIA, KANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State coming off a series win over Arkansas Tech carried the momentum in Tuesday afternoon's non conference game. The Rangers jumped out to a 10-2 lead before closing out the 13-8 victory over Emporia State. Northwestern was powered by five home runs hit Tuesday afternoon with two from Carson Wright, one from Paul Sachen, Oscar Gallardo, and Jacob Wiltshire.
Northwestern improves to 18-9 on the season overall and are 10-5 in conference. Overall on the road this season the Rangers improve to 4-5. The Rangers complete the season sweep over the Hornets after winning the first matchup in Alva 11-4 and now the 13-8 win.
Carson Wright led the Rangers offense with four hits, while hitting two home runs, driving in five runs and scoring three runs. Dylan Bradford had two hits and three runs scored. Overall the Rangers had six players with at least two hits, others including Paul Sachen, Hagen Barcello, Trevor Stiles, and Jacob Wiltshire. Zac McEachern earned the win after throwing two scoreless innings picking up two strikeouts.
Northwestern came out strong Tuesday with three runs in the opening inning as Dylan Bradford started the game with a single and a stolen base before Wright's first home run of the day putting the Rangers in front 2-0 two batters into the game. Sachen doubled before later scoring on an RBI groundout by Bradey Bejarano for a 3-0 lead early in the game.Â
The Hornets responded early in their first at bat as two straight singles and a throwing error set up second and third nobody out as a single up the middle by Williams cut the Ranger lead to 3-2.
The Rangers answered back though, extending the lead as after two strikeouts, Bradford kept the inning alive with a 2-out double before Carson Wright singled to right center for the 4-2 lead.Â
After Will Kates and Kyle Gscheidle combined for a scoreless second keeping the Rangers in front by two the offense scored for the third straight inning this one following a Bejarano triple followed by a Stiles double to left field for back to back extra base hits and a 5-2 lead.Â
The fourth straight inning the Rangers scored was brought from the power as Northwestern had hit three home runs in the inning, first a leadoff solo home run by Wiltshire to left field before Carson Wright followed with a two run home run scoring Bradford and giving the Rangers an 8-2 lead. Paul Sachen went back to back though with Wright as Northwestern led 9-2 following the fourth inning.Â
Gallardo kept the hot start from the offense as for the fifth straight inning the Rangers had scored following a leadoff solo home run for the 10-2 lead as the Rangers scored seven straight. The Hornets started their comeback attempt in the sixth having their first three batters reach safely before a fielder's choice and sacrifice fly scored two runs for a 10-4 Ranger lead after six innings.Â
Northwestern was held scoreless for the second straight inning as Emporia State continued to climb back as the Hornets struck for four runs to cut the Ranger lead that once was eight runs down to two runs at 10-8 scoring on a double, and two fielder's choices.
The eighth inning the Rangers struck again with the first two runners reaching safely before a sacrifice bunt by Stiles with Barcello scoring followed Stiles scoring for the 12-8 lead. Northwestern added one more on a Bejarano fielder's choice as Wright scored for the 13-8 lead.Â
Dawson Toborg closed the game out, throwing the final two innings of the game, not allowing a hit while striking out one to seal the 13-8 victory over Emporia State.Â
Northwestern will travel to Searcy, Arkansas for a weekend series against Harding for three games, a single on Friday before a doubleheader Saturday to close out the series.Â
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