Ryan Skalnik
Gather Lacefield
Sophomore Ryan Skalnik had a three-run home run in an 8-7 Game 1 win.
7
Lincoln Trail LTC 1-5
8
Winner Northwest NWCC 1-0
Lincoln Trail LTC
1-5
7
Final
8
Northwest NWCC
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Lincoln Trail LTC 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 5 0 7 8 1
Northwest NWCC 1 0 0 0 3 2 1 1 X 8 11 1

W: Lindsey, Jonathan (1-0) L: Zack Barker (0-0)

1
Lincoln Trail LTC 1-6
4
Winner Northwest NWCC 2-0
Lincoln Trail LTC
1-6
1
Final
4
Northwest NWCC
2-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Lincoln Trail LTC 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0
Northwest NWCC 4 0 0 0 0 0 X 4 6 0

W: Wright, Jarod (1-0) L: Konner Eck (0-0) S: Lacefield, Hunter (1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | by Kevin Maloney

Ranger Baseball Opens 2016 Season with Sweep of Lincoln Trail

SENATOBIA – Northwest got solid starting pitching from Colt Smith and Jarod Wright and used three-hit afternoons from Tanner Lloyd and Spencer Cayten to sweep Lincoln Trail by 8-7 and 4-1 finals in the Rangers' 2016 season-opener. 

(Game 1) Sophomore Ryan Skalnik's three-run homer to left broke open a close game and gave Northwest a 4-0 lead after five innings but the Rangers had to hold off a five-run eighth for LTC to win the opener.

Colt Smith scattered four strikeouts and only one hit over 5.1 innings of work in a no-decision and was relieved by Austin Towles with one down in the sixth.

Towles was greeted with back-to-back solo home runs by Jack Holden and Raul Hernandez to quickly cut the Rangers' lead in half at 4-2.

Northwest answered in the bottom half with Hunter Wilson's two-run double down the rightfield line and added a run off Cody Cooper's solo home run to take a 7-2 lead after seven frames.

But the Statesmen would put together a big rally in the eighth to eventually tie the game at 7-7. The first three batters reached base safely off reliever Conner McGraw and J.R. Miller got the call in the bullpen. Miller got a big foul out for the first out before a passed ball allowed a run to score and Thomas Cessna launched a three-run homer to left to tie it. Jonathan Lindsey entered in relief and got a pickoff at second and strikeout to end the threat.

Tanner Lloyd's leadoff home run in the bottom of the eighth put the Rangers back on top, 8-7, after eight complete.

Lindsey then shut the door in the ninth for Northwest, striking out the side to earn the win. 

Cayten, Cooper and Lloyd all finished with multiple hits in the win.

(Game 2) All the action in the nightcap came in the first inning, with LTC scoring off Corey Chambliss' RBI-single and the Rangers responding with an RBI-sac bunt from LeeMarcus Boyd, two-run double by Lloyd and RBI-single from Cayten.

Wright scattered three hits, one run and six strikeouts to earn the win in five innings. Devin Orr tossed a scoreless sixth and Hunter Lacefield closed it out in the seventh for his first collegiate save. 

Northwest will return to action next Wednesday, Feb. 17 against Arkansas Baptist. The doubleheader will be played at Gary Hogan Field on the campus of Arkansas-Little Rock. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. Live stats will be available.