Alva Review-Courier -

The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers baseball team enters their last stretch to end their regular season as they started with hosting the Henderson State University Reddies in a three-game series on beginning on Saturday.

Game One

Northwestern had the early jump on the Reddies in the bottom of the first as Greg Carrington led with a single to center field for Northwestern's first hit. With Carrington advancing to second base off a sac-bunt from Colton Krokroskia, a single along the third-base line placed Carrington on third. Northwestern's first run, Carrington, was brought in off a groundout to second base from Cooper Stanley.

Long was later brought in to make it a two-run inning after a single up the middle from Arturo Castro to lead the Reddies 2-0 going into the second.

The second inning went by scoreless for both teams before the Reddies answered back in the top of the third. A double flyball to leftfield plated two runners across home to tie the game at two-all. With one out, and the bases loaded, the Reddies plated two more runners of a single through the left side to take a two-run lead over Northwestern 2-4.

Fortunately, the Rangers tied the game back at four in the bottom of the third with one out and Long on second after hitting a double flyball to left-centerfield, Stanley brought that run in off a single to leftfield to trail by one run 3-4. The tying run in that inning was scored off a wild pitch to bring in Stanley and put the score at 4-4.

Henderson State was able to take back that lead in a one-run inning in the top of the fourth, but their rallying inning came in the fifth, plating five runners to lead Northwestern 4-10.

Northwestern was able to plate one run in the bottom of the fifth and their final two runs in the sixth, but they were not able to overcome the Reddies as they took a game one loss 7-14.

Stats

In game one, Northwestern was led Steven Deckard who hit 2-of-3 at the plate, but Stanley has contributed to Alva's seven run game hitting 2-for-4 to go with his three RBIs and two runs and one homerun.

Other contributors at the plate were Long (2-5, 2 runs), Jorin Van Amstel (1-3, 1 run), Krokroskia (1-4), Castro (1-4, 1 RBI), Pat Delano (1-4, 1 run) and Carrington (1-5, 1 RBI, 1 run).

On the mound, Northwestern had five different pitchers with Bryce Tomlin starting the game one pitching 3.1 innings. Tomlin finished his campaign allowing five runs off six hits while walking four and striking out three. Colin Fouts was the fifth and final pitcher to close out the game pitching 3.0 innings allowing one run off one hits while walking one and striking out two.

Game Two

The Rangers finished up their day in a tough battle with the Reddies as they began game two of their series. This time, it was Henderson State that got their early jump in the top of the first for the lead.

With the first two runners walked, The Reddies scored their first run after a fielder's choice allowed a runner from third to run across home. Henderson State's second run came in after a passed ball, and the Reddies scored two more runs to lead the Rangers 0-4 going into the bottom-half of the inning.

Leslie Nation

Right fielder Greg Carrington races to foul territory to try and track down the deep foul ball.

Unfortunately, the Rangers were unable to break through the Reddies' defense as they went seven innings without a run and Henderson State plated one more run in the top of the second to win game two 0-5.

Northwestern picked up three hits in seven innings against the Reddies as Deckard and Van Vamstel led hitting 1-for-2 at the plate apiece. Long was the third hitter of the game hitting 1-for-3.

On the pitching mound as starter for the Rangers was David Sanchez, pitching for 3.0 innings allowing five runs off two hits while walking seven and striking out one. Mathew Bickford came in to close out the game and pitched 4.0 innings. Bickford allowed only one while walking one and striking out four.

The Rangers and Reddies will return to the field today for a 1 p.m. game at Myers Stadium.