ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State continued the strong start to the season with a doubleheader sweep over Colorado Christian. The Rangers came back to win a close first game on a grand slam from Hagen Barcello. This was before a dominating performance in game two with a 13-0 shutout victory over the Cougars.

The Rangers improve to 3-0 on the season following the Saturday doubleheader sweep, while Colorado Christian falls to 0-3. 

GAME 1:

Hagen Barcello led the offense with a 4-6 game including three runs, and five runs batted in including the game-winning grand slam in the eighth inning. Kaleb Melvin threw 1 ? scoreless innings while striking out two earning the win for the Rangers. 

The first two innings were scoreless as the Rangers' starting pitcher Kaden Spray struck out two batters in the opening innings leaving two on. The scoreless tie changed on a leadoff double followed by a Laeng RBI single to center field for the 1-0 lead over the Rangers. 

Northwestern's deficit did not last long though following a one-out walk and a double by Chase Gordon set up second and third. Bradford singled in the Rangers' first run of the game to tie the score at one. Wright followed with a single before Barcello's extra-base hit to make the game 3-1 in favor of the Rangers. Chad Green cleared the bases with a two-run blast to center field giving the Rangers a 7-1 lead after the teams' third straight extra base hit. The inning was not over there as Gordon for the second time hitting had gotten on base this time with an RBI single scoring Trevor Saire. The Ranger offense put together an eight-run inning for the 8-1 lead through three innings. 

Colorado Christian though bats started with a solo home run for their first of three runs in the inning which was followed by an error and a two-run home run for Acosta as the Cougars had cut their deficit to 8-4. 

After a scoreless inning for the Rangers, the Cougars struck back again after a single and a walk led to a three-run blast by Maydon as the visitors were back within one run. Later in the inning, Acosta singled to tie the game at 8-8 before a strikeout wild pitch led to a 9-8 lead for the visiting Colorado Christian. 

Maydon struck again in the sixth inning after a leadoff walk he blasted his second home run of the game for the 11-8 lead over the Rangers. 

Northwestern answered back quickly after a Paul Sachen double, Chad Green doubled down the left field line scoring Sachen. Later in the inning, Harley Shaffer tripled to right center field driving in Green and bringing the Rangers back within one run. 

With Northwestern down by two runs in the seventh inning it was Chad Green with the bases loaded hit one to third driving in two runs off a Colorado Christian error for the 12-12 game. This helped set up the big inning an inning later as the Rangers loaded the bases without a hit after two hit batters and a walk led to Hagen Barcello crushing a grand slam to left-center field for the go-head grand slam for a 16-12 Ranger lead. 

Jacob Shaw closed out the game after a leadoff single retired the next three hitters for the 16-12 Ranger victory. 

GAME TWO:

In the second game of the day, Chad Green had a game-high three RBI in the win followed by Dylan Bradford had two runs, two hits, and 2-RBI. Will Kates threw 5.0 scoreless innings for his first win of the season followed by Matthew Potts, and Logan Sandoval each with a scoreless inning. 

Kates set the tone with a perfect first inning, leading to three perfect innings for the Ranger starter. Northwestern's offense got things going early. Carson Wright blasted a solo home run to center field for the game's first run. 

The game remained 1-0 into the bottom of the third inning when the Rangers offense broke the game opener starting with a Chad Green three-run home run driving in Wright, and Bradford for the 4-0 lead. Connor Green then went back-to-back home runs with Chad for the 5-0 lead. The inning was not over though after a Porter Pittman triple was followed by Saire sacrifice fly for the 6-0 lead.

Bradford, still in the third inning, doubled in a run-scoring Vetal for the 7-0 lead, leading to a 2-RBI single by Hagen Barcello as the Rangers led 9-0. The Ranger offense continued to tack on runs in the fourth inning as a Bradford bases-loaded walk led to a tenth run of the game leading to a passed ball scoring Pittman. 

The final two runs of the game came in the fifth inning on a Porter Pittman single scoring Chase Hamilton, before a run scored on a Colorado Christian error. 

Northwestern completed the 13-0 win over Colorado Christian on Saturday afternoon. 

The Rangers will look for the series sweep on Sunday against Colorado Christian with the first pitch scheduled for noon.