NW Oklahoma News

The Rangers closed out today's doubleheader against the Henderson State Reddies with a split doubleheader, setting up a rubber match for the series on Sunday. Northwestern came from behind to steal game one on a walk off 4-3 victory over Henderson State. The Reddies took game two 6-2 over the Rangers.

FIRST GAME

Henderson State was able to score two runs at the beginning of game one in the first inning. Northwestern followed up quickly getting two hits off in the first inning, a double made by Shaughn Kelly into right field and single into center field made by Brandon Holdren, which drove in Kelly for the Rangers first run of the game.

Cole Rodriguez threw his second strikeout of the game in the second inning, but Reddies still managed to earn another run making the score now 3-1. Rangers looking to answer back with another run putting runners on base but a double play was made by defense sending them back into the field for third inning,.

Third inning was a quick one for Rodriguez, retiring the Reddies hitters in order. Two swinging strikeouts and fly out was able to put the Rangers to the plate. Contact was made by each batter in the bottom of the inning, but each ball was caught by HSU fielders. Reddies had a repeat of previous offensive inning made by the Rangers, with three balls caught within the field.Rangers' offense struck in the next inning though with two hits by Northwester. Holdren hit a double on a ball into center field just shy of a homerun, as J. Shaffer answered with a  double  sent into right center field. Sacrifice fly was made by Saire, another RBI competed putting Rangers just one run behind the Reddies 3-2.

Northwestern showed their defense on a bunt attempt by the Reddies at top of fifth inning, but Grace was quick enough to get the ball throwing to Barcello to secure the out at first. Another strikeout for Rodriguez was made, his fifth of the game. Third out made left no runs or hit for HSU.

No scoring occurred for the Rangers in the bottom of fifth, but when sent back to defense during sixth inning, batter that was walked got caught stealing with throw made by Hayden Priest to H. Shaffer at second, leaving the inning yet scoreless again for Reddies.

The final inning of the game was where Northwestern had the edge finishing off the win. With Reddies second pitching substitution of the game, Holdren advanced to first to start the inning. A single hit into center field by Grace completed a RBI as Bejarano made it home, after pinch running, and Grace was able to get to second base on error made by Henderson State. Priest made contact with the pitch, moving the runner to third, before pinch hitter Gavin Mendoza hit ball into left field for a walk of single as Grace cross the plate clinching the win of 4-3 for the Rangers!

SECOND GAME:

With Dylan Collins on the mound, he began the game with two strikeouts right away. Offensively, Shaffer led off the team walking on base. Kelly bunted, filling two bases. Transition back into defense in the second inning, there were no hits made by the Reddies. Collins had one strikeout, and two infield ground-outs were made by Barcello. Barcello caught line drive straight to him and fly ball was in directly into center field with catch made by Saire. In the bottom of the second inning, Saire hit double into left center with two outs. He was able to advance to third on a wild pitch before third out was made.

Kelly secured the first out of the third inning, launching making a play to Barcello. The Reddies were able to strike first on a 2-run home run for a 2-0 lead in the third inning. The Reddies pitching staff held the Rangers scoreless in the bottom of the inning. Henderson extended their lead with their second homerun  by Henderson State in the fourth inning, changing the score to 4-0. Another strikeout was completed by Collins, his fourth of the game.Rangers tried to get on the board as Barcello's double hit down the left field line, and was able to advance to third on ground ball hit by J. Shaffer. However, Saire is able to make it to first base after the Reddies made their first error of the game. This hit was able to send Barcello home, earning the Rangers first run of the game and Saire's first RBI this game as well.

In the middle of the top of the fifth, the first pitcher substitution was made by Northwestern, replacing Collins with Connor Gibson. Gibson managed to strikeout two of the three batters he faced his first inning in. However, two RBI were hit within the inning, putting the score 6-1 for Henderson state. One walk and one hit occurred in the bottom of fifth for the Rangers; Kelly was walked and Holdren singled to left center. Barcello was looking to send Kelly home after his two-base run he made during Holdren's single but got out grounding to shortstop.

With bases loaded and only one out made, the sixth inning put defensive pressure on the Rangers. Grace made the second out at third base unassisted after ball was hit straight to him, and Gibson kept the momentum going by striking out the following batter. The first and only homerun of the game made by Northwestern was hit by Saire in the sixth inning now trailing 6-2.

Original source can be found here