ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball team defeated New Mexico Highlands, 5-3, on Sunday afternoon to win the series against the Cowboys.
The Rangers jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, as
Alex Dabrowski singled to right field to start the game, stole second, and advanced to third on a balk.
Jailon Goodfellow hammered a single up the middle to bring Dabrowski home and give the Rangers a 1-0 lead at the end of the first. The Rangers shut the Cowboys down through the first four innings, as
Trey Barkman gave up only one hit and struck out five batters through four to keep momentum with Northwestern. The Rangers got a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth, as
Tyler Hogan singled to center field and moved to second because of a balk.
Chase Gordon and
Matthew Bailey both drew walk to load the bases, and
Levi Joyce brought Hogan home on a sacrifice fly to double the Ranger lead.
Joel Lindahl ripped a single down the left field line to plate another run and expand the lead to 3-0 at the end of the fourth.
The Cowboys put a runner in scoring position in the top of the seventh, but
Nathan Nunez came in to shut down back-to-back batters and keep the Cowboys off the board. In the bottom of the seventh, Dabrowski walked and took second on a failed pickoff attempt to put another Ranger in scoring position.
Brody Harris slapped a single down the middle to tack on another run and move the Ranger lead to 4-0 through seven innings. The Cowboys plated a run in the top of the eighth, but the Rangers responded with
Cole Barton smashing a triple to the wall, followed by Gordon ripping a single to right to move the Ranger advantage back up to four runs. The Cowboys rallied in the top of the ninth, but the Rangers held on to beat the Cowboys, 5-3.
Gordon and Lindahl led the Rangers in hits with two, while five different Rangers had an RBI. Barkman finished with seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings to record his first win of the season, and
Elias Herrera earned his first save of the season.
The Rangers will be back in action on February 10, when they travel to Ponca City to take on Northeastern State University at 2 p.m.
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