By NICK VILLALOBOS
Sports Editor
The Northwestern Rangers baseball team suffered back-to-back losses against Southeastern on Valentine’s Day.
The Rangers opened up conference play against the Savage Storm of Southeastern Friday, grabbing a 3-1 win.
The game was scoreless through the first three innings. In the top of the fourth inning the Savage Storm broke the 0-0 deadlock when Collin Sefcik tripled, forcing teammate Corban Taylor to score at home.
The Rangers would soon rally in the bottom of the eight though, as Jason Freeman, Blake Jones and Matt Benn scored runs, giving the Northwestern a 3-1 lead.
Ranger pitcher Thomas Sander would then close out game one on the mound, as he pitched a full four innings, allowing zero runs and only three hits.
Both teams took to the diamond yet again against each other Saturday, this time in a back-to-back double-header to finish the three game series.
The first game of the day saw the Rangers scrambling for runs and playing catchup against the Savage Storm as Southeastern jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.
The Rangers began to close the deficit in the bottom of the third when Christian Hammerl scored after teammate Jeremy Smith hit a double.
Ranger Benn scored another run in the inning as he hit an RBI, driving in teammate Logan Porter.
The score by Porter allowed the Rangers to close to a 3-2 deficit. Unfortunately, the Savage Storm would bust the score wide open in the top of the seventh inning when they began their scoring again. Southeastern would go on to take game one with a final score of 8-3.
Game three soon followed the conclusion of game two.
As play began in three of the series, the Savage Storm built another early 3-0 lead on the Rangers through the midway point in the fifth inning.
The Rangers eventually got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, when Jones crossed home during a Savage Storm double play that got Rangers Joshua Caruso and Trenton Earley out.
Southeastern would add another run in the top of the seventh inning, sealing the game three win for the Savage Storm on Valentine’s Day.
Coach Carel said following the game, “It was a good pitcher duel, and we just couldn’t come up with the hits today. But no matter, we will be ready to rock against East Central this weekend.”
The Rangers will be in Ada, Okla. this weekend as they take on East Central tomorrow at 12 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.