By NICK VILLALOBOS, Editor-in-Chief
Game 1: Friday
The Northwestern Rangers baseball team opened its season on Friday with an impressive 4-2 win over the Fort Hays State Lions.
Ranger newcomer, Bryce Tomlin, a junior, right-handed pitcher from Gilmer, Texas, started on the mound for the Red-and-Black defense and managed to collect six strikeouts, allow only one hit and zero runs within the six innings he pitched.
On the offensive side of the ball, Ranger Colton Krokroskia started the scoring for Northwestern after teammate T.J. Kassner tripled to left in the bottom of the third inning.
Then in the sixth inning, Northwestern added two more runs when both Kassner and Garrett Douglas scored following a double by teammate Jorin Van Amstel and a wild pitch by the Lion pitcher.
The Rangers finished their scoring in the bottom of the eighth inning when Douglas crossed the plate for a second time following an RBI single by Ranger Nathan Kane.
Also in the eighth inning, the Lions managed to add two runs of their own, both of which came unearned off Ranger relief pitcher David Sanchez.
Game 2: Saturday
Following the Rangers impressive win on Friday, the Red-and-Black suffered a devastating 15-0 loss in game two against the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats.
Getting the start for the Rangers in game two was sophomore, Brandon Colbert who would struggle in his Ranger debut as he would go only 3.1 innings after allowing six hits, four runs and collecting four strikeouts.
Following the exit of the struggling Colbert, Rangers Matt Bickford, Tyler Havener, Collin Fouts and Baron Phillips each shared time on the mound for Northwestern.
Game 3: Saturday
In game three, the Rangers managed to shake off the disappointing loss to Bearcats and crush the Lions of Fort Hays State with a 13-3 win.
Getting the start on the mound for Northwestern was Pat Delano, but due to injury he was replaced with Thomas Sander after only going one-third of the first inning.
Prior to Sander appearance on the mound, the Lions were able to add three runs on the Red-and-Black.
Following Sander’s season debut, however, the Lions were unable to get anything past the Rangers defense as Sander would go 1.2 innings, face seven batters, allow only one hit and record two strikeouts.
After the clutch performance by Sander, Ranger Matt Bickford would close out the game for Northwestern. Bickford finished with five innings pitched where he faced 16 Lion batters, collected five strikeouts and allowed only three hits.
On the offensive side of the ball for Northwestern, Ranger’s Quincy Tunstall, Steven Deckard, Douglas, Krokroskia, Kane, Kassner and Jacob Long had a stellar day at the plate.
Krokroskia, who was one of four Rangers with at least two runs in the game, finished with two hits and four RIBs.
Game 4: Sunday
After splitting the day Saturday with a loss and win, the Rangers suffered a devastating 8-3 loss to the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State on Sunday.
Things looked hopeful for the Red-and-Black early on in the contest as they managed to build an early 3-1 lead through six innings, but things would start going downhill in the top of the sixth inning.
After starting freshmen Ranger pitcher, Nick Llorente went five solid innings, throwing four strikeouts and allowing only one run, Northwestern then fell into a pitching slump as they flew through six pitchers in the remaining innings.
Rangers Nick McKinney, Jon Bauer, Sean Rydell, Blake Jones, Fouts and freshman Brandon Nesseralla each made an appearance on the mound and unfortunately allowed seven runs combined.
On the offensive side, Rangers Long, Van Amstel and Deckard each had one run. Van Amstel finished the day with two hits respectively.
Next up for the Rangers is a road trip to Canyon, Texas to take on West Texas A&M starting at 3 p.m. Friday and concluding at 1 p.m. Sunday.