By COLLIN ZINK, Senior Reporter
A pitcher on the Northwestern baseball team tosses the ball during Northwestern’s game against Washburn on Saturday at Myers Stadium. -Photo by Devyn Lansden
The Northwestern Rangers baseball team got off to a sluggish start, falling victim to Minnesota-Crookston by winning one out of three match-ups.
The Rangers looked to improve their 1-2 start but lost to Newman University, 17-5.
The Northwestern festival became a turning point for the Rangers as they beat New Mexico Highlands in the first game by a score of 10-7.
Senior Blake Hoffman and junior Shaughn Kelly got the scoring started for the Rangers against New Mexico Highlands in the first inning. Kelly scored on a single with an RBI by Hoffman, while Hoffman scored on an error.
Although the Cowboys came back to lead 4-2, the Rangers kept their foot on the gas to win.
The Rangers started well against the Washburn Ichabods. Ethan Swanson was the starting pitcher for the Rangers, as he threw 23 strikes and struck out two players in the first five innings. In those five innings, he threw 46 balls but still managed to keep the game tied at 1-1. Swanson pitched only six innings with a total of 37 strikes, two strikeouts and 52 balls thrown.
Swanson was taken out because coach Ryan Bowen said his pitch count was getting high, and that he was about to pitch through the batting lineup for the fourth time that game.
Bowen said the other players pitched because the team was trying to get out and find a match- up that would work. Bowen said he was pleased to see his starter pitch well, but wished the team could have come away with the win as they fell to Washburn, 12- 10. Even though the Rangers lost, Bowen said the team is improving.
“I think our 2022 team is growing,” Bowen said. “We’re not quite there yet, got a long ways to go, but we’re getting better every time we play.”
The next game for the Rangers will be Friday when they begin a three-game series at Southern Arkansas. The next home game will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. against Emporia State.