By NICK VILLALOBOS
Sports Editor
Northwestern baseball traveled to Russellville, Ark., on the weekend to take on the Wonder Boys for a three-game GAC match up.
The Rangers were unsuccessful in all three games against Arkansas Tech, falling 15-1, 16-2 and 3-2.
In game one the Wonder Boys got the bats going early in the second inning when they scored four runs.
Arkansas Tech would continue to pile on the runs for the next three innings, giving them a 15-1 lead over the Rangers.
The lone run for Northwestern came from Logan Porter, who connected for a solo home run in the sixth inning.
The series then moved into Monday for a double-header, but yet again the Rangers were unable to get a victory in either game.
In game two the Rangers managed to score twice but neither were enough to halt the relentless pace Arkansas Tech was on as they took the game 16-2.
The two runs from the Rangers came in the fourth and sixth innings.
The first was by Ranger Joshua Caruso who collected an RBI single that scored teammate Matt Benn. The second came by Ranger Greg Marco, who connected for an RBI double that scored Freeman.
Game three was another heartbreaker for the Rangers, as it would go into extra innings eventually leading to a Wonder Boys walk-off 3-2 victory.
The Rangers were first to get on the board in game three as in the second inning Cody Jones scored Caruso after an RBI double.
Arkansas Tech would tie the game up at one apiece in the third inning, then eventually take the 2-1 lead in the fourth.
The Rangers would have a solid seventh inning as they managed to tie the game up at 2-2.
The Wonder Boys were able to get the 3-2 win in the tenth inning though, as they scored off of an RBI double.
Northwestern was in action again on Tuesday in Enid, Okla. as they faced non-conference opponent Hillsdale Baptist.
As the single game Tuesday evening got under way, the Rangers quickly got their bats going.
Within two innings, the Rangers compiled 10 runs with help from a two run home run in the first by Caruso and key doubles by Benn and Jason Freeman.
Hillsdale added their first runs in the fourth inning as they scored four runs.
The Rangers would add on another run in the fourth as well, extending their lead to 11-1.
In the fifth and sixth innings, Hillsdale added on three more runs, but the Rangers countered the attack with three of their own.
The Rangers would continue their hot at-bats in the seventh and eighth innings when they tacked on three more runs.
In the seventh inning, Porter connected for a two-run home run scoring Jeremy Smith.
In the eighth inning, Caruso would cap off his great night at the plate with a walk-off solo home run to end the game.
Caruso would lead the way for the Rangers for the night after he went 5-5 at the plate, scoring five times, collecting 5 RBIs and grabbing three home runs.
The win moves the Ranger’s record to 8-19 in the GAC and 18-27 overall.
Ranger baseball will take to the diamond at Myers Stadium to close out their season Friday beginning at 7 p.m. and Saturday, with games beginning at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. against rival Southwestern.