By NICK VILLALOBOS
Sports Editor
Northwestern baseball opened the season Sunday on the road in Goodwell, Okla., against the Aggies of Panhandle State.
In game one against the Aggies, the Rangers dominated the game from start to finish, grabbing a commanding 8-2 victory. A big part of the offensive display for the Ranger’s was senior Jeff Martin, who finished the day going 2-5 hitting, with one home run and three RBIs. Jeremy Smith also had an outstanding performance, as he went 2-5 hitting as well, with a home run and two RBIs.
Northwestern then played a back-to-back double-header Monday afternoon to finish out the series against the Aggies, grabbing 8-0 and 3-0 victories.
In game two, the Rangers were able to continue their previous dominance of the day before with another high-powered offensive showcase.
The showcase kicked off in the top of the fourth inning when Ranger Jason Freeman connected for single, driving in both Logan Porter and Martin.
The scoring continued with the Rangers’ Smith coming home after Matt Benn grounded out. Ranger Joshua Caruso connected as well for a single, which brought in Jason Freeman, giving Northwestern a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
Ranger Christian Hammerl drove in another run as he laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed teammate Blake Jones home from third base.
The Rangers grabbed their last three runs in the fifth inning, when Martin connected for a single that drove in Benn, followed by a single by Jones that forced in both Benn and Caruso, giving the Rangers an 8-0 advantage.
Despite the hot batting by the Rangers in game two, it was Ranger pitcher Matthew Bickford who lead the way offensively. Bickford would finish with seven innings pitched, five strikeouts, three hits and three walks in the 8-0 rout of the Aggies in game two.
As game three got underway, directly following game two, the Rangers would attack early offensively after back-to-back RBIs by Ranger Trenton Earley and Hammerl giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning.
The Rangers would continue to strike in the top of the third as Martin would hit an RBI double, bringing in Earley, which gave the Rangers a 3-0 lead.
Ranger Pitcher Brody Ausfahl would then finish off the Aggies as he would go a complete seven innings pitched, with six strikeouts, two hits, and only one walk.
The great offensive display by both Ausfahl and Martin would wrap up the three-game series against Panhandle State as they got the commanding 3-0 win, as well as the 3-0 series win.
The men will be back in action at 2 p.m.tomorrow as they host Northwest Missouri State in Myers Stadium.