Will Reinke made his first start of the season and pitched three effective innings in OC's 2-0 loss to Northwestern in the second game of a doubleheader.
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 24, 2012) – Northwestern Oklahoma State pitchers Clay Thomas and Zach Floyd each threw a shutout on Saturday as the Rangers swept Oklahoma Christian 13-0 and 2-0 in a doubleheader at Dobson Field.
Northwestern (19-15, 9-7 Sooner Athletic Conference) held OC (7-18, 3-14) scoreless during their three-game series and extended the Eagles' losing streak to 13 games.
In the opener, Northwestern pounded out 14 hits off six OC pitchers. Patrick Johnson hit a three-run home run in the fifth to break open what had been a 2-0 game. Trevor Long followed with a solo home run in the sixth for Northwestern and Jason Miller added a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh.
The Eagles loaded the bases with no outs in the third inning on consecutive singles by Evan Draper, Blain Elliott and Dillon Andrews, but had Eliiott was called out when Daniel Thompson's batted ball hit him and Tanner Hessman and Wes Dorough hit into force plays at home plate.
OC had only three baserunners in the final four innings against Thomas (4-4), who allowed six hits and fanned five with no walks. Harrison Mendez (2-3), who started but didn't make it out of the first inning, took the pitching loss for the Eagles.
OC's pitching proved effective in the second game. Will Reinke, with the basketball season finished, made his first baseball start and threw three innings, allowing three hits and one unearned run. Kelby Reneau went the rest of the way and gave up four hits and a run.
But Floyd (3-1) handcuffed the Eagles and took a no-hitter into the seventh before Hessman doubled down the left-field line to start the inning. Garrett Stephenson reached on a two-out error, putting the potential tying run on base, but Draper grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game.
An RBI double by George Flores scored Jose Maysonet in the second inning for the Rangers. They tacked on an insurance run in the seventh, as Flores singled and eventually scored on a double by Wesley Brorsen.
Reinke (0-1) took the hard-luck loss. Floyd struck out seven batters and walked none for Northwestern.
The Eagles will host No. 19 Rogers State on Tuesday in the last of three games this season against that SAC foe, then will host another SAC squad, USAO, on Thursday.
