By RANGERS ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
Northwestern Oklahoma State hosted conference foe, Southern Arkansas for a three-game series and started off with a tough one-run loss, 8-7.
Game 1
Sean Rydell would earn the series opening start for the Rangers and went four innings where he was responsible for five runs for the visitors, four of which were earned.
Three Ranger batters had solid days at the plate, led by senior Jacob Long who was fantastic at the dish, going 3-for-5 with a homerun. Arturo Castro and Colton Krokroskia were the other two hitters to collect multiple hits, as they were 2-for-4 and 2-for-2 respectively.
Rydell started off with a zero on the scoreboard in the top of the first, but it didn’t take long for the Muleriders to get on the board as the third inning proved to be a big one, scoring three runs on two hits and a walk. The runs made it a 3-0 game, following an empty opening frame for the hosts.
Northwestern would bounce back in the bottom of three however, as they started the inning off with a hit-by-pitch where Kane would gain first base. Carrington then brought him around on a triple down the right field line, making it a two-run ballgame. In the very next at bat, Long claimed his second knock of the game, bringing Carrington home. Northwestern would gain another hit in the inning, but that would be the end of the scoring in the inning.
All it took for the Muleriders however was one inning before getting back on the board, as they plated one run on a sacrifice fly to centerfield. That would be the only run to cross, ending the top of the fourth 4-2, visitors.
The battle would continue in the following at bat for the hosts as they would plate another, this time on reliever Brandon Nesseralla, making it a two-run game again.
Northwestern continued the run support for the Ranger pitching staff in the bottom half of the fifth, where they gained the first lead of the ballgame, 6-5 and knocked out the starting pitcher in the process.
SAU didn’t stay down for long as they put another run on the board for the third straight at bat, making it a tie game at six apiece, but the home team would again shut the visitors down to just a single run.
The top of the eighth inning looked to be a big inning for the Muleriders, putting the leadoff man aboard, but David Sanchez came on in relief for Nesseralla and was able to record two quick outs to get out of the jam. The score remained 6-6.
Following two straight open frames, Southern Arkansas tacked on two runs in the top of the ninth, taking the lead 8-6.
Northwestern would gain a huge homer off the bat of Long to make it an 8-7 game, but that would be the end of the scoring for the home club, finishing up the game in one-run fashion.
Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southern Arkansas squared off for the closing doubleheader where the Muleriders would come away with two wins against the Rangers, 7-4 and 4-1.
Pat Delano had a fantastic day for the Rangers as he was 3-for-7 at the plate, leading the team. Casey Dickerman, Colton Krokroskia, Arturo Castro, Jacob Long and Greg Carrington were the other five players to collect at least two hits on the day.
Game 2
Starting on the mound for the Rangers was Bryce Tomlin who went 5.2 innings, giving up six runs on six hits. He would ultimately take the loss in the contest.
As an offensive unit, Northwestern gained more bases on hits than the Muleriders as the hosts collected 11 hits. Long, Delano, Krokroskia and Dickerman all had two hits in the game.
Leading off the top of the first, the visitors put their leadoff man aboard following a leadoff walk issued by Tomlin, but the one run would be all they could muster, leaving the game at 1-0.
Northwestern shut down the Muleriders for the next two innings and then tie it up at one apiece in the bottom of three on a groundout to second base, plating Dickerman on the play.
In the Muleriders very next at bat however, they would score two more runs on a rifled homer to right field, making it 3-1.
Not willing to go away quietly, Northwestern scratched out two more runs of their own to tie it back up in the bottom of the fourth on a single down the left field line by Delano.
SAU came up in the top half of the sixth and made the Rangers pay on a single and an error, tacking on three runs to make it a 6-3 contest, knocking out Tomlin in the process.
Brandon Nesseralla came on to relieve Tomlin for the final out of the inning and was successful in doing so, maintaining the three-run game.
The Rangers put two men aboard in the bottom of the sixth, but the runners were left stranded following a strikeout.
A Richardson single to left field would score another run for the visitors of Magnolia, Arkansas, making it a 7-3 lead.
Northwestern gained one run back in the seventh on a SAC fly to left field by Van Amstel, bringing Carrington across the plate to make it a three-run game again at 7-4.
Coming in for the Rangers in the top of the eighth inning was freshman Tyler Havener and collected three quick outs, shutting out the visitors in the inning.
The Rangers also had an empty frame in the eighth, and Ranger skipper, Sam Carel brought in Baron Phillips for the top of nine, but following two hit batters, Blake Jones would make his game debut.
The Rangers would fall in the game as no runs were crossed in the final inning, falling 7-4.
Game 3
Matthew Bickford was the game three starter for the Rangers and pitched three and two-thirds innings before being replaced by Nick Llorente in the fourth.
The Rangers struggled at the dish in game two, only collecting four hits in the contest.
The Muleriders continued to score early in the games as they posted one run to start things off after a big double to left field.
In the bottom half of the first Northwestern would plate a run of their own on a single to left field by Castro, bringing around Carrington for the score.
The score would remain at one apiece until the top of the fourth when the guests put a three spot on the Rangers, making it a 4-1 contest.
Following a score in inning one, the Rangers were held in check for six straight after that, finishing the game on the losing end 4-1.
Northwestern will host Oklahoma Baptist for the next conference series starting Friday.