ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball opened a three game series on Saturday afternoon against Southern Arkansas Muleriders. The two teams split the doubleheader on Saturday after the Muleriders took game one, before the Rangers used a four run inning to take a 9-3 win in game two.

The Rangers are now 15-11 on the season with a 6-8 conference record while Southern Arkansas is now 15-9 with a 9-5 conference mark.

GAME ONE:

In the first game of the afternoon the Rangers had a hit each by Carson Wright, Hagen Barcello, and Paul Sachen. Will Kates started the game throwing seven innings allowing two runs only one earned with two strikeouts.

The two teams each had base runners in the first inning as Wright got a one out single but both teams left one on base. It was Southern Arkansas that struck first in the game after a Ranger error led to an RBI double for the early 1-0 lead by the visitors.

Rangers looking to answer had a one out single by Paul Sachen but back to back strikeouts kept the Rangers scoreless. 

The game stayed 1-0 as in the fourth inning the Rangers looking to tie the game put the first two runners on base from an error and a walk. This led to a Barcello single to left field but the Muleriders defense stepped up throwing the game's tying run out at the plate from left field. A double play closed out the inning keeping Southern Arkansas in front.

The Muleriders extended their lead in the fifth inning after a leadoff double came around to score on a sacrifice fly to center field pushed across a second run for the 2-0 lead.

In the eighth inning Southern Arkansas was able to extend their lead one more time with back to back singles to start the inning leading to an RBI double to left center field as Southern Arkansas took a 3-0 lead. 

The Rangers had base runners in the eighth and ninth inning but were unable to score as Southern Arkansas closed out the shutout to start the series over the Rangers with a 3-0 win.

GAME TWO:

Chad Green led the team in game two having three hits and a walk reaching base four times while driving in five runs. He was one of two home runs as Gavin Mendoza hit a solo home run after a two hit game with a 2-RBI day. 

Jacob Wiltshire pitched to start the game earning his fourth win of the season as Dawson Toborg threw the final 2 ? innings not allowing a run, striking out two and earning his first save of the season. 

The teams traded runs early in the game as Southern Arkansas had a leadoff triple to start the game to right field before scoring the run on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded forcing in the game's first run.

The Rangers answered after hitting back to back singles to start the inning leading to a Chad Green RBI double to left field scoring Dylan Bradford for a 1-1 game after the first.

It stayed 1-1 into the third inning when Southern Arkansas had two runners on after two straight singles leading to a 2-RBI double to left field to take a 3-1 lead over the Rangers.

Northwestern answered back with a four run inning. A single followed by a walk and hit batter loaded the bases. Chad Green drew a bases loaded walk to push the second run across. This led to a Gavin Mendoza RBI single for the 3-3 game. A hitter later Colby Grace then hit an RBI single giving the Rangers their first lead of the game. Chase Gordon followed with an RBI sacrifice fly for a 5-3 lead. 

Southern Arkansas had a walk in the fourth inning but a double play closed out the fourth inning holding the 5-3 lead. The Rangers extended the lead in the fourth with an RBI single by Chad Green scoring Bradford for the 6-3 lead in the fourth. 

The score remained 6-3 into the bottom of the sixth inning when the Rangers used two home runs in the inning to extend the lead. It started with a one out single for Barcello before a 2-RBI home run to right field for the 8-3 lead. Gavin Mendoza followed going back to back home runs with a solo home run to right field and a 9-3 lead. 

Dawson Toborg closed out the game with a perfect seventh inning to seal the 9-3 win to even the series at 1-1 setting up the third and final game for the series.

The Rangers will close the series with a single game on Sunday against Southern Arkansas with first pitch scheduled for noon.

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