RUSSELLVILLE, Ark.  – Marcus Wilson smashed a two-run double and John Beck turned in a solid appearance in relief, but the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys baseball team (17-27, 9-19 Great American Conference) was unable to overcome big innings by Northwestern Oklahoma (14-30, 11-17 GAC), falling 9-2 to the Rangers in the teams' series opener on Friday night.
 
NEXT UP

• The Wonder Boys and NWOSU will conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 23. First pitch is set for noon.

TECH STARTING LINEUP

1. Dylan McDearmon (2B)
2. Josh Watkins (RF)
3. Kaleb Warden (1B)
4. Kyle Love (DH)
5. Collin O'Neil (3B)
6. Connor Brady (SS)
7. Marcus Wilson (LF)
8. Blake King (C)
9. Seth Wheeler (CF)

NWOSU STARTING LINEUP

1. Garrett Douglas (RF)
2. Jacob Long (C)
3. Thomas Bess (CF)
4. Cooper Stanley (DH)
5. Xyruse Martinez (SS)
6. Tito Montano, Jr. (1B)
7. Jeremy Smith (3B)
8. Colton Krokroskia (LF)
9. Casey Dickerman (2B)

SCORING PLAYS

• NWOSU 5^th – J. Smith homered to left center, 3 RBI; X. Martinez scored; C. Stanley scored. (NWOSU 3, Tech 0)
• NWOSU 5^th – G. Douglas doubles to left field, RBI; C. Krokroskia scored. (NWOSU 4, Tech 0)
• Tech 6^th – M. Wilson doubled to left field, 2 RBI; K. Love scored; K. Warden scored. (NWOSU 4, Tech 2)
• NWOSU 6^th – T. Montano singled to left field, 2 RBI; X. Martinez advanced to second; C. Stanley scored; T. Bess scored. (NWOSU 6, Tech 2)
• NWOSU 6^th – C. Krokroskia doubled down the lf line, out at third lf to 3b, 3 RBI; J. Smith scored; T. Montano scored; X. Martinez scored, unearned. (NWOSU 9, Tech 2)

OF RECORD

• Winning Pitcher: R. Lawhon (7-6)
  Losing Pitcher:  T. Armstrong (4-7)

NOTABLES

• Trent Armstrong suffered the loss for Tech after pitching into the sixth, allowing six runs on seven hits and fanning two.
• John Beck tossed two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and fanning four to close the game.
• Tech was held to five hits in the loss.