ALVA, Okla. - The Storm hit the road to take on Northwestern Oklahoma State for a three game weekend conference series. The Rangers delivered two comeback wins to take the series and the sweep over SNU.

Game 1

The Storm (5-17, 2-10 GAC) looked to score first but left two stranded unable to score in the top of the first. The Rangers (16-7, 8-4 GAC) got their bats going early, busting out a leadoff single that eventually scored on a double to left. Starting pithcer Will DeHotels worked out of the jam to hold Northwestern to just a 1-0 lead after the first.

Southern Nazarene looked to even the score and did just that as Chase Hudson singled and Tucker LeMay doubled to left to put runners on. A ground ball from Max Dias plated Hudson to tie the score at one all. The Rangers took advantage of a few free bases and an SNU error to plate three runs and take a 4-1 lead after two innings of play. 

The Rangers found a groove holding off the Storm in the top of the third. NWOSU rallied with two to get an SNU pitching change as freshman Tyler Reed took over on the mound for DesHotels. A bases loaded walk sent one Ranger across to extend their lead. Levi Graham then got the go on the mound for the Storm. The Rangers stayed selective at the plate as SNU walked in another run to give Northwestern a 6-1 lead.

SNU got one back thanks to a solo blast from Chase Hudson to trail by four. The Rangers kept the Storm offense quiet once more to hold on to their lead. NWOSU tacked on another run from a single up the middle to lead 7-2 after five.

Northwestern handed the Crimson Storm another scoreless inning as they posted two more to push their lead to seven. The Storm rallied for five in the top of the seventh highlighted by a Colby Entwistle double, cutting the deficit to two. Landon Kinder took over on the bump, handing Northwestern a scoreless frame. 

The Rangers retired the side holding off the Storm offense. The Rangers tacked on an insurance run on a solo shot over the left center wall. The Storm had one chance to rally a comeback but ultimately fell short, 10-7, in game one of the series in Alva.

Game 2

The Rangers handed the Storm another scoreless frame to begin game two of the doubleheader. Patrick Hine took the mound for SNU, handing the Rangers a scoreless frame as well to begin the contest. 

The Storm got on the board first after a double from Hudson and a single from LeMay plated two. The Rangers responded, cutting the deficit in half with a solo home run.

The two squads struggled to bring a run across until a ground ball from Entwistle plated another run for the Storm. An error from Northwestern brought another SNU member home to lead 4-1 in the fourth. Hine continued to shut down the NWOSU offense as he retired the side. 

SNU tacked on one final insurance run on a double from Trey Orman to give the Storm a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. The Storm needed just three outs to claim the victory and split the day with the Rangers. 

Hine recorded two quick outs before the Storm looked to Jacob Martinez to finish off the game on the mound. A few walks and an error proved to be costly for the Storm as the Rangers cut their deficit to three. 

Back to back singles put Northwestern within one as they were still down to their final out. A wild pitch would be all it took for the Rangers to claim the walk off win and claim the series over Southern Nazarene, 6-5.

Game 3

Southern Nazarene looked to avoid a sweep in game three, but the Rangers had other plans. The Storm jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead thanks to a Jacob Martinez double and Chase Hudson ground out. Oliver Wilson got the ball for the Storm holding the Rangers to just one run in the first.

Northwestern retired the side holding SNU to their 3-1 lead. The Rangers evened the score quickly after a double over the center fielder's head scored two evening the score at three.

Landon Kinder took over for Wilson handing the Rangers two scoreless innings. NWOSU kept the Storm offense quiet as the two squads were still tied heading into the fifth.

The Rangers held SNU to another scoreless frame in the top of the fifth. The Storm sent Gunner Phillips to the mound as he got a chance with the Rangers. Northwestern brought home one on a single to left to grab the lead.

A home run from Weston Hicks tied the score once more in the top of the sixth. NWOSU continued to respond with a two run bomb to take back the lead. They added on an insurance run to lead SNU 7-4 after six.

The Storm looked for a rally in the top of the seventh and did just that. A bases loaded walk brought home one, cutting the Northwestern lead down to two which led to a pitching change. Trey Orman was unphased as he blasted a grand slam to put SNU ahead 9-7. 

A quick inning for the Rangers offense held the score leaving the Storm in the lead. The Rangers did not back down as they began to chip away at the Storm's lead. A single to left brought home one Ranger, cutting the deficit to just one. That was followed by a two run home run that gave Northwestern a 10-9 lead. SNU looked to Zack Robinson to work out of the jam. The Rangers kept their foot on the gas as they tacked on two more runs from a single to right.

Northwestern needed three outs to claim the victory and the series sweep over the Storm. A lead off walk for SNU would be all the Rangers allowed as they collected three quick outs after that to claim the 9-12 victory and the series sweep over SNU.

Next Up

The Storm will return to Feland Field to host East Central for a single game on Tuesday, March 12. The first pitch with the Tigers is set for 1:00 p.m. in Bethany. The Storm took the weekend series over ECU 2-1 earlier this season and look to claim another victory over the Tigers.