By COLLIN ZINK, Senior Reporter
Despite its 3-7 record, the Northwestern Rangers baseball team is continuing to improve.
The Rangers finished the Northwestern Festival by winning two of three games before being swept by the Muleriders of Southern Arkansas.
The Rangers came back to beat the Cowboys of New Mexico Highlands in exciting fashion.
The Cowboys had a 6-5 lead when Northwestern came up to bat in the bottom of the ninth. Junior Shaughn Kelly saved the day by hitting a walk-off grand slam, giving the Rangers a 10-6 win.
Kelly had five at-bats with three runs, two hits and four RBIs.
Head baseball coach Ryan Bowen said, “The NWOSU Festival went well.”
Along with Kelly, Bowen said he believes that sophomore designated hitter Hayden Priest and junior pitcher Emilio Lovato have been had positive impacts for the team so far in the season.
Bowen said the team has a lot to improve on, however.
“On the pitching side, we need to improve on limiting free bases, walks and HBPs (hit-by-pitches),” Bowen said.
“Defensively, we need to continue to be more aggressive and play loose. Offensively, we need to cash in on opportunities with runners in scoring position.”
Although the team members were looking forward to the games ahead, the Rangers had a rough series against Southern Arkansas.
In the first game, they lost 13-3. In the second game, they lost 8-0, and in the third game, they were defeated 13-2.
In the first game, Southern Arkansas got off to a 9-0 lead. The Rangers got on the board in the fourth inning with a home-run by Kelly.
In the second game, Ranger pitcher Ethan Swanson threw 15 balls in a row in the second inning to get the Muleriders up to a 4-0 lead.
Southern Arkansas got off to a 13-0 lead in the third game, but Ranger senior infielder Brett Erickson got the Rangers on the board in the 7th inning on an RBI. Also in the 7th inning, sophomore outfielder Joseph Frisby got runs on the board by way of an RBI from Chase Orrock.
The Rangers will be back at home on Saturday for a three-game series against the Boll Weevils of Arkansas-Monticello.
The first game of the series will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Glass Family Field at Myers Stadium.
The doubleheader will start Sunday at noon, with the next game scheduled for 3 p.m.
The Rangers have maintained a 9-12 record against the Boll Weevils since 2015. The Boll Weevils have a 3-5 overall record.