ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball team fell to Arkansas Tech, 6-4, in game one of the series Friday afternoon.

The Wonder Boys struck first on a two-run home run in the top of the first, and the Rangers responded with Blake Mattern singling and moving to second on a wild pitch. Chase Gordon kept the rally going with a walk, and Cole Barton hammered a single through the gap to bring Mattern home and cut the lead down to one at the end of the first inning.

Arkansas Tech tacked on another run in the third to move the score to 3-1, but the Rangers got a runner in scoring position off a single from Matthew Bailey and a walk from Gordon. Barton blasted a single to right field to score another run, but the Rangers still trailed 3-2 at the end of the third inning. The Ranger rally continued into the bottom of the fourth, as DJ Barrett drew a walk before Alex Dabrowski launched a ball over the left field wall to put the Rangers on top, 4-3.

In the top of the fifth, the Wonder Boys tied the game on a solo home run, but Will Kates shut down the Wonder Boys to keep the game tied at 4-4. Arkansas Tech took the lead back in the top of the seventh, 6-4, and the Rangers put runners in scoring position on walks from Gordon and Joel Lindahl, but they could not score. The Rangers tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth, but Arkansas Tech held on to win, 6-4.

Barton led the Rangers in hits with two, while Barton and Dabrowski each had two RBI.

The Rangers will be back in action tomorrow to close out the series with Arkansas Tech with a doubleheader at Myers Stadium, with the first pitch at noon.

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