Rangers drop series opener to Crimson Storm

ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State opened a three-game series Friday afternoon against the Crimson Storm. Southern Nazarene used back-to-back three run innings to open a 7-0 lead before closing out their 10-1 win over the Rangers.

The loss drops Northwestern to 14-16 on the season with a 9-11 GAC record while Southern Nazarene moves to 5-26 with a 2-17 conference record.

Thomas Beiswanger led the Rangers with two hits on the afternoon with the RBI off a solo home run. Five other players each had one hit in the afternoon. Ethan Swanson took the ball in the Friday game throwing four innings striking out seven allowing seven runs before being relieved by Cade Phelps throwing four innings striking out five giving up three runs. Tate Schuermann threw the final inning striking out two hitters.

Southern Nazarene opened the scoring in the first inning with a solo home run to left center field by Taylor. Swanson struck out two in the opening inning before the Rangers went down with a hit but no runs.

The teams traded scoreless innings in the second, each getting a hit for the Rangers it was Blake Hoffman before stealing second but a fly out to left ended the inning.

Southern Nazarene's offense broke through in the third with their first of two three run innings. Following a one out single and double Southern Nazarene was threatening to score more. A single to left center field drove home both runners to extend their lead to 3-0. Wilson singled to left field, extending the lead to 4-0.

In the third inning Beiswanger produced Northwestern's run with a one out solo home run to left field to cut the deficit to 4-1 at the time.

For the fourth inning the Crimson Storm had two singles followed by a walk to load the bases with one out. Brown hit a sacrifice fly to left field to push across the first run of the inning. This was followed by a 2-RBI double to push across two more runs for a 7-1 lead through four innings of play.

The game stayed that way after shutdown innings through six innings as in the seventh Southern Nazarene produced the 8th run of the game. The Crimson Storm had one out singles moving runners to first and third before a bunt single scored one more run,

The Crimson Storm had one more multiple run inning to push their lead to 10-1 over the Rangers. After a double and a single to put two runners on with nobody out. A sac bunt followed by a single backup the middle pushed across two more runs extending their lead.

Northwestern was to return to action Saturday afternoon for a doubleheader against Southern Nazarene in Glass Family Field at Myers Stadium.