ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State completed the three-game sweep over Oklahoma Baptist for the ninth-straight victory. Northwestern used a five-run fifth inning to take the team's largest lead at six runs before closing out the 10-5 victory over the Bison.
The Rangers improved to 25-14 on the season with a 13-11 Great American Conference record, while Oklahoma Baptist fell to 19-17 on the season.
Dylan Bradford led the Rangers with a three-hit, three run, and 2-RBI performance on Monday. Harley Shaffer had a 2-RBI game as well and tied for the team high. Connor Green, Carson Wright, Chad Green, and Chase Gordon all had an RBI.
Logan Sandoval struck out four in 5 ? innings, earning his third win of the season as Jacob Shaw pitched the final 3 ? innings, striking out two and earning his second save of the season.
After a scoreless first inning, the Rangers struck first after putting the first two on base in Bradford and Wright before Connor Green pushed across the first run.
Oklahoma Baptist struck back to tie the game on a leadoff solo home run to right field by Bennett for the 1-1 game.
The Rangers in the home half of the inning left two base runners on before retaking the lead in the fourth inning. Colby Grace had a leadoff walk before Shaffer was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. After a passed ball and a wild pitcher allowed Grace to score and give the Rangers a 2-1 lead.
Northwestern, in the fifth inning, struck for a five-run fifth inning. The inning started with the Rangers getting two base runners before a Gordon RBI single to extend the lead to 3-1. Shaffer reached on an error as a run came across to score before a Bradford double to left center pushed across two more runs and a 6-1 lead. Bradford scored on an RBI double from Carson Wright as the Rangers led 7-1.
Oklahoma Baptist struck for four runs in their half of the sixth inning, cutting the Ranger lead down to two at 7-5 after the top of the sixth inning.
The game stayed at 7-5 into the seventh inning before a Bradford one-out double led to an RBI single by Connor Green. Chad Green followed with an RBI double, giving the Rangers a 9-5 lead.
Northwestern added one more run in the eighth inning as Shaffer hit an RBI single to right field, scoring Grace for the 10-5 lead.
Shaw closed the game out with a perfect ninth inning to seal the victory and complete the series sweep over the Bison.
Northwestern plays a non-conference game against Southern Nazarene on Tuesday April 8th in Enid for the Hot Dogs and Apple pie game. The Rangers return to conference play with a home series against Henderson State on April 11th.
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