Rangers baseball split afternoon doubleheader

Northwestern Oklahoma State's baseball team took on two MIAA opponents in Northwest Missouri State and Fort Hays State Saturday, Feb. 4, and went 1-1 on the afternoon. The Rangers were on the wrong end of Game One against the Bearcats, 15-0, but turned the tables in Game Two, crushing the Tigers 13-3 in a mercy-rule game.

Five different Rangers recorded multiple hits during the two contests: Nathan Kane (2-for-3), Colton Krokroskia (2-for-5), Steven Deckard (2-5), Garrett Douglas (2-6) and Jacob Long (2-7).

Game 1

Starting on the mound for the Rangers in Game Two of the weekend, and the first of the day was sophomore Brandon Colbert, who went 3.1 innings before a host of Rangers came on in relief. Three Ranger pitchers made their Northwestern debuts, as Tyler Havener, Collin Fouts and Baron Phillips all recorded an inning apiece.

The top half of the first was a rocky one for the young starter as he surrendered two hits and a walk, resulting in the first run of the game crossing the plate for the Bearcats, making it 1-0. The Black and Red were unable to get anything going in the bottom half of the first.

Both teams came up empty in the second frame, but the top half of the third was again a big one for the visitors as they loaded the bases twice and scored one run on a hit, making it 2-0 Bearcats.

Northwestern had a quality opportunity to make some noise in the bottom of the third, but was unable to capitalize on a bases-loaded situation. The first three batters – Castro, Krokroskia and Dickerman – all reached, but from that point on the Rangers were set down in order, leaving the paths full of Rangers.

After getting the first out of the inning, Colbert struggled the rest of his outing, giving up two more runs, and was eventually replaced by Matthew Bickford who finished off the inning, giving up two hits and an earned run. Overall in the fourth inning, NWMSU collected five runs, four of which were credited to Colbert.

The fifth inning wasn't much different for the host's defense as three runs were plated by the guests on two hits and two errors.

The Rangers remained in a tough spot offensively, as the Bearcats starter only gave up two hits in his outing, blanking the home team on the scoreboard through six innings.

NWMSU had one of just two open frames in the sixth, but it didn't last long as they unloaded again in the top half of the seventh, pouncing on the home team with five more runs on seven hits to make it a 15-0 game. Following a hitless seventh for the hosts, the mercy-rule was put into effect, ending the contest.

Game 2

Game Two of the afternoon started off shaky as well for the Rangers as Fort Hays State was able to get the bats rolling early on, scoring three runs in the first. Pat Delano started on the bump, but was taken out due to injury after one-third inning.

Thomas Sander came on in relief for the injured Delano, who saw his first action in the 2017 season. In just 10 pitches, Sander was able to get out of the jam with no more damage done.

Unlike last game, the Rangers were able to get on the board in the bottom half of the opening frame with one run, after Douglas crossed on an error by the Tiger pitcher, making it 3-1 FHSU.

The home squad got it going again in the second however and turned the game upside down, scoring four runs on three hits.

Following a consecutive flawless inning by Sander, the Rangers were hot at the dish again, scoring two more runs. Crossing the plate for the hosts were Quincy Tunstall and Steven Deckard.

Bickford came on in relief in the top of the fourth for Sander, who was phenomenal in his 2017 debut. The Northwestern defense allowed two base runners, but the Tigers were unable to convert, leaving them both stranded.

For the fourth straight inning, the Rangers crossed the plate four more times, making it a large, 11-3 lead.

Jacob Long started off the fifth inning with a roped single through the left side, and he was followed up by Tunstall, hitting a sharp grounder towards the third baseman that squeaked through. Just one batter later, Deckard connected on a shot to left field, that scored both Long and Tunstall, making the count, 13-3.

That would be the last time either team would score, but the 10-run lead would lead to a mercy-rule after the top of the seventh.

Sander's fantastic 1.2 innings and the Ranger offense gave him his first win of the season. Bickford was great as well, finishing off the last five frames, surrendering zero runs on three hits.

Up Next

Northwestern will conclude its opening series tomorrow afternoon beginning at 12 p.m. where they will take on Northwest Missouri State and look for revenge on the Bearcats.