Bison Cool Off Red-Hot Rangers to Take Game One

ALVA, Okla. – The Oklahoma Baptist baseball team made the trip up north and took down Northwestern Oklahoma State in a Friday night Great American Conference tilt. The Rangers were on a nine-game win streak which included two GAC series sweeps before the Bison dominated Northwestern 9-1.
 
Bison pitcher Jake Lipetzky pitched 8.0 innings and held the Rangers to no runs on five hits. He finished the game with an ERA of 0.00 and now has an overall ERA of 3.32.
 
The Bison and Rangers got off to a slow start with neither team able to score over the first three innings. Then, in the top of the fourth, Ramon Enriquez smacked a double into right field, sending Walker Keller home. After a Hector Ruvalcaba single that advanced Enriquez to third, Eric Carlson came to the plate and hit an RBI sacrifice bunt to bring Enriquez home. This turn at bat gave OBU a 2-0 advantage.
 
After Lipetzky made short work of the Rangers in the bottom of the fourth, OBU added to its lead in the top of the fifth when Keller batted in Cade Kissel with a single to centerfield. Cliff Pradd then completed his trip around the diamond when Kaimana Bartolome hit a single right past the third baseman taking a 4-0 lead.
 
In the top of the seventh, the Bison added two more runs to their lead when Kissel scored on another Bartolome single, and Keller scored on a Ranger error at third base. These runs gave OBU a 6-0 lead. After Lipetzky's seventh straight shutout inning, the Bison put the game away in the top of the eighth. Kissel got the offense going when he hit a single into center field. Pradd followed up Kissel with a double down the left field line, advancing Kissel to third. After a quick pitching change by the Rangers, Keller hit a double to center field, batting in both Pradd and Kissel. The Rangers then decided to change pitcher once more, but it made no difference as Bartolome singled to the left side, advancing Keller to third. Enriquez then put the game away with a sacrifice fly to right field, sending Keller home.
 
The Rangers got on the board, with one run, in the bottom of the ninth to avoid the shutout but the damage was done, and the Bison took game one 9-1.
 
Up next, the Bison will look to close out the series in a Saturday afternoon doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.