By MEGAN SPRAY
Northwestern baseball opens its season this week as the Rangers prepare to compete in the Great American Conference with a young and hungry roster.
The Rangers are coming off a season filled with growth and challenges. The team showed resilience throughout the year while facing injuries, roster adjustments and the grind of conference play. Northwestern went 30-22 on the season and 17-16 in conference play last year. The team finished the season as the seventh seed in the Great American Conference (GAC) tournament and graduated 22 senior athletes.
However, this season the Rangers return significant experience on the mound. Head coach Ryan Bowen said several pitchers are in position to take the next step after a productive offseason. “I’m super excited to see all of those guys as they make jumps,” he said. “We have a lot of really talented pitchers that have the chance to have big years, and I really want them to have big years.”
Offensively, Northwestern features a new look. The team is very versatile offensively, being aggressive at the plate and quick to steal bases.
Bowen said the team’s athleticism stands out. “I’ve been coaching since 2009 and it’s the most athletic team I’ve ever had as far as guys being able to run,” he said.
Part of the preseason focused on building chemistry with a roster full of new faces. It took some time to adjust to the growing pains, but over time the team began to mesh.
Newcomer Cole Barton from Justin, Texas is in his junior year looking to play infield for the Rangers this season. Barton said the preseason helped establish confidence and connection. “We had a really good fall,” he said. “We learned a lot about our club. We have a lot of new guys, so seeing everyone’s strengths on the field was really fun.”
Having a team identity helps differentiate between other competition and makes an immediate impression before the game even starts. Ranger baseball’s identity centers on effort and grit.
Bowen described the program as having a blue-collar approach, while Barton said the Rangers have a scrappy style.
“We’re going to go out there every day and give you a run for your money,” he said. “We’re going to hit singles, we’re going to steal bases, we’re going to play good defense and we’re going to put all of our heart out there.”
Chase Gordon is a junior from Bristow returning for this third year as a catcher for the Rangers, and he said the environment and community support set Northwestern baseball apart. “It’s an exciting atmosphere,” he said. “Everyone is pumped up and always ready to go. It really gives that community feel.”
Following the Rangers this season is their strong, blue-collar approach and their competitive drive for success. Bowen said the goals for this season are to be more consistent, play better on the road and have more success over the top teams in the league.
Northwestern opens the season on the road with a four-game series at Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colorado. First pitch is scheduled for Friday at 2:00 PM, as the Rangers look to set the tone early in the pursuit of a successful 2026 season.