ALVA, Oklahoma - Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball hosted Rogers State Tuesday afternoon for the final regular season home game of the season. The Rangers scored three runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead which they never lost after getting the lead.
The Rangers improve to 29-17 overall on the season with the win over the Hillcats for the first win against Rogers State since 2021. Rangers finish the season with a 21-6 home record.
Northwestern had three players finish the game with two hits each in the win Carson Wright, Paul Sachen, and Chad Green. Green had 2-RBI's to lead the team. Cade Phelps threw two scoreless innings for the Rangers earning his third win of the season, Jacob Shaw picked up his seventh save of the season.
Rogers State got the first run of the game in the top of the first inning after a walk and a stolen base pushed a runner in scoring position. After a ground out with a throwing error to third forced in a run and an early 1-0 deficit for the Rangers.
However the Northwestern offense answered back quickly after Dylan Bradford was hit by a pitch and stole second followed by a single and a walk to set bases loaded. Northwestern tied the game on a Hillcats error before Chad Green hit an RBI single scoring Hagen Barcello for the 2-1 lead. Paul Sachen later scored on a wild pitch for a 3-1 Rangers lead.
Phelps kept the game 3-1 after back to back scoreless innings in the second and third before the Rangers extended the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Paul Sachen singled to right field, before he was hit in by a Green RBI single, his second of the game.
The Hillcats were able to get one back in the fourth inning on an RBI double to left center scoring their lead off hitter of the inning Mitchell after he was hit by a pitch. Rogers State cut the deficit to 4-2.
Rogers State had an opportunity to score in the sixth inning after a lead off single. Russell two batters later hit a double to center fielder but Trevor Saire threw the ball to Jacob Wiltshire who threw home to Trevor Stiles to get the out at the plate keeping the game at 4-2 in favor of the Rangers.
The game remained 4-2 into the ninth inning when Rogers State looked to at least tie the game. The visitors put the first two runners on base after a walk and a single setup runners on the corner with nobody out but a double play started by Bradford picked up two outs quickly. A run did score, cutting the Ranger lead to 4-3 but a strike to end the game closed out the 4-3 win for the Rangers.
Northwestern will close out regular season play during the upcoming weekend with games on Friday and Saturday afternoon in Weatherford against Southwestern Oklahoma State.
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