ARKADELPHIA, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State closed out the three-game series with Ouachita Baptist on Friday afternoon. The Tigers swept the doubleheader over the Rangers, after in game one scoring three runs in the first taking the early lead before game two having a four and a five run inning taking the second game of the afternoon.

The Rangers drop to 27-19 on the season with a 14-16 Great American Conference record. Ouachita Baptist improves to 21-22 with an 18-12 conference record.

GAME ONE:

Dylan Bradford led the Rangers in hits with two in the game. The Rangers had four players drive in a run from Connor Green, Chase Gordon, Harley Shaffer, and Trevor Saire. 

Northwestern scored in the top of the first inning after a Bradford single, he stole second, advancing to scoring position before an RBI groundout from Connor Green.

The Tigers answered though in the bottom of the inning with three runs after an error and two walks led to a Jester RIB single back up the middle before a 2-RBI single to left field pushed the Tigers in front 3-1. 

It stayed 3-1 into the third inning when a sacrifice bunt put a runner in scoring position before an RBI single by Bolin scored Jester extending the Tigers lead to 4-1 after three innings of play. 

The Rangers were able to get the run back in the fourth inning though after the first two batters were able to reach Shaffer delivered an RBI single scoring Chad Green as the Rangers trailed 4-2. 

After a scoreless bottom of the fourth inning the Rangers were able to answer back with one more run in the fifth. The Rangers loaded the bases leading to an RBI single by Chase Gordon to cut the deficit down to one at 4-3. Back to back strikeouts kept Ouachita Baptist in front.

The Tigers got one run back in the bottom of the fifth inning after two singles led to a third single, this time an RBI single, extending the Tigers' lead to 5-3.

Trevor Saire continued the scoring in the sixth inning, getting the Rangers back within one run on a solo home run to left field as the Rangers then trailed 5-4. Ouachita Baptist answered back, though with a solo home run in the bottom of the 6th inning, taking a 6-4 lead.

The Tigers struck for two more runs in the bottom of the 8th inning when Ouachita Baptist got a two-run home run from Graham for the 8-4 lead. 

Rangers had one hit in the ninth inning by Bradford but a double play helped keep the Rangers scoreless in the ninth as Ouachita Baptist closed out the 8-4 win over the Rangers taking the series. 

GAME TWO:

The Rangers were led in hits by Dylan Bradford, Carson Wright, and Hagen Barcello, each with one hit in the game. 

Kyle Holzer led the Rangers in pitching, throwing 3.2 innings, not allowing a run while striking out two. 

The Tigers struck first in game two of the afternoon after a walk led to two straight singles, with the second an RBI single to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. 

Ouachita Baptist had a big second inning, scoring four runs in the inning on an RBI double. The Tigers got three more on a bases-loaded walk, a single, and a sacrifice fly for the 5-0 lead.

The score remained 5-0 into the sixth inning when the Tigers struck for five more runs. A leadoff triple came around to score on an RBI single by Scott for the 6-0 lead. A Ranger error allowed two more runs to cross for the 9-0 lead before an RBI double pushed the Tiger lead to double digits at 10-0. 

The Rangers will be on the road April 22nd against Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, before returning home for the final conference series against Southwestern Oklahoma State starting on Friday, April 25th.