RUSSELLVILLE, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State opened its three-game series against Arkansas Tech on Sunday afternoon. The Rangers dropped game one after Arkansas Tech took the lead after a four-run fifth inning before closing out the 9-3 win. Arkansas Tech jumped out to a 4-1 lead in game two before closing out the doubleheader sweep 10-2.

Northwestern drops to 7-7 on the season with a 0-5 conference record, while Arkansas Tech improves to 4-7 with a 3-1 GAC record.

GAME ONE: 

Northwestern was led by Hagen Barcello and Carson Wright each with two hits in the game, as Barcello added a 2-RBI game. Dylan Bradford had the third Ranger RBI.

The game opened with a scoreless first inning and second inning after Rangers' starter Jacob Fuller worked around an early jam. After Arkansas Tech opened the second inning by loading the bases with nobody out, a strikeout, fly out, and ground out helped keep the game at 0-0. 

In the top of the third inning, the Rangers put the first two runners on base before Hagen Barcello struck for a 2-RBI single to right center field, scoring Chase Hamilton, and Dylan Bradford for the 2-0 lead over the Wonder Boys. Arkansas Tech was retired to keep the 2-0 lead. 

The Wonder Boys worked out of a one-double in the fourth, keeping the game at 2-0 before Arkansas Tech got on the board in the home half of the inning. It started with a lead-off solo home run to right field as the Rangers' lead was cut to 2-1.

Arkansas Tech changed the game in the fifth inning after a leadoff double came around to score on an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2. The Wonder Boys hit a sacrifice fly to take a 3-2 lead before a 2-RBI single pushed their lead to 5-2 through five innings of play. 

The game stayed 5-2 into the seventh inning when Arkansas Tech extended their lead on a bases-loaded walk followed by a run-scoring on a wild pitch for a 7-2 lead over the Rangers. In the 8th inning, Arkansas Tech added two more runs for the 9-2 lead after a hit batter led to a 2-run home run. 

Rangers were able to get one run back in the ninth inning after three straight singles with the third from a Dylan Bradford RBI single scoring Carson Wright before a strikeout closed out the 9-3 victory for Arkansas Tech in the series opener. 

GAME TWO:

Rangers led in game two by Chase Gordon with three hits in the loss. Carson Wright and Connor Green each had an RBI in the game. 

The Rangers opened the scoring in the first inning of game two after a leadoff double by Dylan Bradford, who came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Connor Green for the early 1-0 lead. 

Arkansas Tech answered back in the bottom of the 1st inning after a leadoff double followed by back-to-back singles loaded the bases with nobody out. Arkansas Tech then went for four runs after an RBI single, a fielder's choice followed by a 2-RBI single. The Wonder Boys held a 4-1 lead after the opening inning. 

Arkansas Tech held the 4-1 lead into the third inning when a Chase Hamilton leadoff double led to an RBI groundout by Carson Wright cutting the Raner deficit to 4-2. Arkansas Tech then answered back though in the bottom of the third inning as Kirby Jenkins doubled down to the left field line before a Francis double pushed the lead to 5-2. 

The Wonder Boys pushed their lead to 10-2 after four innings of play after a five-run fourth inning. The inning started with an error before a single to left field scored one run followed by a fielder's choice allowing a second run to score before a three-run bases-clearing double by Jenkins of Arkansas Tech for the 10-2 lead. 

The Wonder Boys closed out the victory over the Rangers 10-2 to complete the doubleheader sweep and take the series over the Rangers. 

Northwestern closes the three-game series on Monday afternoon against Arkansas Tech with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 PM.

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