ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State picked up a conference win over Arkansas Monticello Saturday afternoon with a 6-4 win behind a five run seventh inning where the Rangers batted around sending 10 batters to the plate.

Northwestern improves to 4-7 on the season and 1-3 in GAC play as Arkansas Monticello falls to 3-6 on the season with a 1-3 conference record.

Emilio Lovato took the ball in the series opening game against Monticello throwing 6.2IP allowing three earned runs striking out nine batters. He was relieved by Edwin Colon throwing 2.1 innings allowing zero runs while earning the win.

The offense was led by Brandon Holdren getting two hits while knocking in four runs in the win including two doubles. Yugo Hamakawa finished with two hits and two runs scored. Brayden Koenig finished the afternoon with an RBI and one hit.

Arkansas-Monticello struck first with a leadoff single before a 2-run home run by Thompson pushed the visitors in front early with a 2-0 lead. Northwestern responded in the bottom half of the inning following a single from Hamakawa before an RBI double for Holdren pushed across the Rangers first run.

Each starting pitcher would dial in from there as the game remained 2-1 for the next four innings. Both teams would have a couple different scoring opportunities. Northwestern would have runners reach base safely in each of the next three innings including runners in scoring position in two of those three.

Lovato retired seven straight Monticello hitters before escaping a couple of Arkansas-Monticello rally attempts with no damage done. They would have runners reach scoring position in two of the next three innings including the fifth inning after striking out two Monticello hitters.

The offense came back in the sixth as Monticello was able to take advantage of two Northwestern errors following a stolen base pushing the Weevils lead to 3-1. The seventh inning they did damage again pushing a 4-1 lead following a sacrifice fly from Johnson.

In the bottom half of the seventh inning the Rangers offense struck. Joseph Frisby got things started with a single. Northwestern loaded the bases with one out before a Holdren double down the right field line pushed three runs across the plate as Hamakawa, Shaughn Kelly and Frisby came around to score, tying the game at four. Hoffman drove home a run on a chopper hit to second, scoring a run on an Arkansas Monticello error. Koenig would then drive home the final run of the day with an RBI single back up the middle.

Colon continued to throw in the 8th after retiring Monticello in order he would escape their comeback attempt in the ninth. Arkansas Monticello would put the tying run in scoring position with runners on second and third, but the Ranger pitcher escaped any damage following two ground outs.