ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball opened the three-game set against rival Southwestern Oklahoma State Friday with a comeback 4-2 victory over the Bulldogs. The Rangers used a two-run seventh inning to take the lead for the rest of the way before closing out the win.
The Rangers improved to 28-20 on the season with a 15-16 Great American Conference record.
Northwestern was led in hits by Dylan Bradford, and Trevor Saire with two hits each. Carson Wright led the team with a 2-RBI game and a hit. Bradford and Connor Green had the other Rangers hits.
Logan Sandoval pitched seven innings, striking out two, earning his fourth win of the season, before Dawson Toborg closed out the game for his fourth save of the season with a two-inning save.
The Rangers looking to strike first had a two walk inning but were not able to score as the game stayed 0-0.
Southwestern Oklahoma State scored first with a run in the second inning after a one-out single led to a two-out RBI single by Jeffers for the 1-0 lead over the Rangers. The Rangers, looking to answer, had two base runners before a double play helped Southwestern out of the inning.
The Bulldogs extended their lead with a run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Jeffers for the 2-0 lead over Northwestern.
The Rangers were able to cut the deficit in half in the fifth inning after Bradford picked up the team's first hit to move runners to first and third before an RBI single by Wright put the Rangers on the board with a 2-1 game.
It stayed 2-1 until the seventh inning when a leadoff single by Saire led to a single by Bradford, setting the runners on base. This led to an RBI groundout from Wright to tie the game at 2-2. Connor Green followed with an RBI single and a 3-2 game.
In the eighth inning, the Rangers were able to add a run after a leadoff walk by Colby Grace led to back-to-back bunt singles loading the bases. This led to an RBI groundout by Bradford and a 4-2 Ranger lead.
Toborg closed out the win, retiring all six batters he faced in the game to earn the two-inning save and a Ranger victory to open the series.
Northwestern closes the regular season with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 PM. Senior day recognition will begin at noon.
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