Alva Review-Courier -

SHAWNEE, Okla. – After sweeping the conference opening weekend against Southern Nazarene, Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball dropped the first game of this three game series Friday evening to Oklahoma Baptist 7-1 in Shawnee.

The Rangers got the first lead of the game from a Tyler Garcia home run, which was the lone run of the game for the Rangers. The second and final hit from the Rangers was from centerfielder Jake Darrow.

Pitching was led by Scott Creedon who went five innings giving up three runs on six hits along with walking two while striking out five. He was relieved by Rafael Lara who went two innings giving up one run on two hits with three walks. Jacob Uhing relieved Lara giving up three runs in his inning.

Northwestern jumped out to a lead in the top half of the third inning when Garcia stepped up to the plate in a 0-0 game. He launched one to left field for his first home run of the 2020 season, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

The Bison, however, wasted no time answering, as in the bottom half of the third inning Joey Pledger of OBU hit a solo shot, evening the score at one apiece.

The score stayed tied 1-1 as Creedon escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth to keep the game tied.

The Bison struck again in their half of the fifth after a leadoff double got the inning started. They got another double driving in the run followed by an RBI single to extend their lead to 3-1. They had runners on the corners but Creedon was able to escape any further damage.

Rangers turned the ball over to Lara for the sixth. The Bison loaded the bases on him but that would be all as with one out he forced back-to-back popups to end the inning with Northwestern still trailing 3-1.

OBU started their half of the seventh inning with back-to-back doubles to score a run and extend their lead to 4-1. With a runner on third looking to score more, Colton Whitehouse had other thoughts and made a diving catch in right field to end the inning.

Jake Lipetzky pitched a complete game for the Bison only allowing the home run to Garcia and then retired 19 straight batters to close the game out.

With the loss, the Rangers drop to 5-8 on the season and 3-1 in Great American Conference play. The Rangers were to be back in action Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader to wrap up the series with Oklahoma Baptist.