by Athletic Communications
Rangers were set to take the field Tuesday afternoon riding the momentum from the weekend series sweep over Arkansas- Monticello. The Red-and-Black wasted no time as they jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and rode the terrific start the rest of the game. The Rangers led the whole way, going on to win by a final score 9-4. Rangers improve to 11-13 on the season and remain 7-5 in conference play.
Rangers offense scored nine runs on 14 hits Tuesday afternoon in Claremore. The Red-and-Black offense was led by leadoff hitter Bryce Donovan and center fielder Daschal Johnson who led the team with three hits each. Marques Paige and Jose Rubalcava had two apiece on the day. Johnson, Brock Randels, and Parker Base had two RBIs each on the afternoon. Paige, Yugo Hamakawa, and Colton Whitehouse had the remaining runs batted in for the Rangers.
The Rangers pitching went with a “staff day” with Harry Park getting the first inning as a starter. He pitched a scoreless first inning working out of early trouble. Park picks up the win for the Rangers his first one on the season. Koby Spicer had two strikeouts in his inning of work. Jeremy Sawyer, Sean Rydell, Rafael Lara, Beau Britton, Grant French, Kyle Rogers and Brody Shook all pitched in the game.
Northwestern’s leadoff hitter Donovan led off with a double to lead a four-run inning off for the Rangers. Johnson drove in the first run of the game with an RBI infield single to the shortstop. Randels stepped up and extended the Ranger lead with a single into left field. The Red-and-Black’s first-inning rally would not stop there as Base picked up a two-RBI double to give the Rangers a 4-0 start.
Rogers State looked like they were going to answer back with a few runs, as they had runners on first and third with nobody out. As the inning killing strikeout, throw him out double play gave the Rangers two quick outs finding a way to get out of the inning without allowing a run after getting the next hitter to pop out.
The Rangers and Hillcats pitching staff would keep the game at 4-0 through the second and third innings before the Rangers would get back on the board. With runners on first and second Hamakawa came to the plate and delivered an RBI single scoring Jake White while extending the Rangers lead to 5-0.
After a scoreless fifth inning, both offenses jumped on one another’s pitching. In the Rangers sixth inning, Jose Rubalcava continued hitting by starting the inning off with a single. As Johnson stepped up with the bases loaded he produced an RBI single. The next two runs were scored by a Whitehouse fielder’s choice, followed by Randels extending the inning by reaching on an error. This extended the lead to 9-0 in favor of the Red-and-Black.
Rogers State would answer back with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with the bases loaded and received an RBI single from Kapuras, giving the Hillcats their first runs of the game. Merriweather added another run with an RBI single cutting their deficit to 9-3 after six innings.
The Hillcats pitching staff would hold the Rangers scoreless the remainder of the game. Northwestern kept them scoreless in the seventh and eighth inning but Rogers State tried to comeback in the ninth. After loading the bases with nobody out they looked to be in business. After a walk drove in the fourth run, the Rangers escaped further damage with a pop fly followed by a double play ground out Randels stepped on third and threw to first to end the game.
The win extends the Rangers winning streak to four straight games. The Red-and-Black will be back in action Friday and Saturday this weekend returning to conference play taking on the Reddies of Henderson State.