By Caitlin Hofen, Feature Editor
The Northwestern baseball team won two games against No. 9 Southern Arkansas on Friday to win the series.
In game one, the Rangers jumped out early in their half of the inning after a leadoff double by Bradey Bejarano and Paul Sachen, who hit an RBI single to right center field for the 1-0 Ranger lead.
In the second inning, the Rangers continued to take advantage of the Mulerider pitching after a leadoff walk by Trevor Saire.
Colby Grace later hit a two-run home run extending the Rangers’ lead to 3-0 after two innings.
The Rangers extended their lead even further in the fourth inning on a leadoff home run by Saire to left field.
The Mulerider offense struck in the fifth inning with a back-to-back double to start the top half of the inning, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
The second run later scored on a fielder’s choice hit to second base, as the Ranger lead was cut in half, 4-2.
In the ninth inning, Southern Arkansas tied the ball game in the top of the ninth inning.
Back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. A hit batter tied the game at 4-4.
The Rangers wasted no time answering in the inning.
After the first two outs to start the inning, Grace started the rally by drawing a two-out walk before Harley Shaffer legged out an infield single to set up first and second.
Bejarano followed with an RBI single to left field, scoring Grace for the walk-off victory.
In the second game, Southern Arkansas opened with a run in the top of the first inning.
After a fielder’s choice and a single runner in scoring position, a wild pitch allowed the game’s first run to score, as Southern Arkansas led 1-0.
The Ranger offense answered by taking the lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Brandon Holdren led the inning off with a walk. Saire followed with a double. Gavin Mendoza followed with an RBI single back up the middle, scoring Holdren and Saire for a 2-1 lead through two innings.
Southern Arkansas quickly got the run back on a solo home run to left center for a 2-2 game.
In the fourth inning with the game still tied 2-2, Shaffer broke the tie with a solo home run to center field, regaining the lead 3-2. Southern Arkansas came back in the fifth inning with a lead-off single, a stolen base setup and an RBI single to left field, tying the game at 3-3 through the fifth inning.
Jacob Shaw came in to throw the sixth inning, getting the first two batters out before a walk and a double to put runners on second and third.
A strikeout ended the inning, holding the game at 3-3.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, a one-out single by H. Shaffer with one followed by a wild pitch put him in scoring position.
Sachen then delivered an RBI double to left field, pushing the Rangers in front 4-3.
Northwestern ended the three-game series with a loss against the Muleriders on Saturday. Southern Arkansas took control late in the game after a 1-1 tie through seven innings before opening a 7-1 lead to win the game.
The Rangers had a scoring opportunity in the third inning when Stiles led off with a double followed by a walk to Shaffer, setting up first and second with nobody out.
However, the Rangers were unable to score, keeping the game scoreless 0-0 through three innings.
The Muleriders scored first in the fourth inning. Finally, in the sixth inning, the Rangers were able to tie the score.
Saturday afternoon’s game remained tied into the eighth inning when the Muleriders jumped out in front once again.
Orr singled to start the inning before McGee walked. Richardson stepped up with an RBI single to right field, taking a 2-1 lead. With a runner on third, Lyles hit a sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead.
Northwestern had a base runner in the half after a single by Barcello but he was left on first as the game remained 3-1 heading into the ninth and final inning.
The Muleriders extended their lead in the inning as a double, and two walks loaded the bases for McGee.
He delivered in a big way with a grand slam to right-center field, taking a 7-1 lead.
In the home half of the ninth, the Rangers were able to load the bases, trying to fight their way back in the game, but Southern Arkansas escaped any damage, keeping the game and the win by a final score of 7-1 over the Rangers.
The Rangers play Southwestern in their final games of the regular season on Friday at 6 p.m. and during a doubleheader Saturday, with the first game at 1 p.m. at Glass Family Field at Myers Stadium.