WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU Baseball went winless on the final day of the regular season against rival Northwestern after dropping both ends of the Great American Conference doubleheader by identical 4-3 scores.
 
The Bulldog season will continue however, as SWOSU clinched a late postseason spot with their win on Friday in game one against the Rangers. They will travel to Enid, Oklahoma next weekend to play in the GAC Tournament on May 5-8 (Saturday-Tuesday).
 
Game One
Northwestern 4, SWOSU 3
Box Score (html)
 
The Bulldogs never led in game one after Northwestern jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and took the lead again in the sixth and finally in the eighth with the game-winning run.
 
SWOSU notched single runs in three different innings and managed to tie the game up twice on a pair of solo home runs from seniors Daniel Richardson and Nick Ward, but could never produce a crooked scoring inning.  
 
Tied 3-3 heading into the eighth inning, the Rangers scratched the final run across with a two-out rally. After two quick outs from Tyler Barnett on in relief, Northwestern singled and stole second before an RBI single to left field allowed the deciding run to score.
 
Cooper Cantwell pitched 6.1 innings and got the start on the mound, before giving way to Barnett who threw the final 2.2 innings. Cantwell allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out five batters while walking four. Barnett was given the loss after surrendering the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, but was effective out of the bullpen for the Dawgs.
 
Ward – making his first start on Senior Day – made the most of his chance with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate including his dinger. Brady Burtner also collected a pair of hits and finished 2-for-5.
 
Game Two  
Northwestern 4, SWOSU 3
Box Score (html)
 
SWOSU's bats were quiet for a majority of the series finale as the Bulldogs managed just one hit until the seventh inning. The Bulldogs scored first on an unearned run in the first inning, but Northwestern answered the next half inning with a pair of runs and eventually extended their lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning on a two-RBI single.
 
Down to their final three outs, the Dawgs finally woke up and made things interesting. Alex Pimentel doubled to lead the inning off, followed by a walk and an RBI single from Brady Burtner.
 
The Rangers changed pitchers and got an out, before Chase Duncan drove in another run on a pinch hit RBI single. Now 4-3, SWOSU loaded the bases with one out and looked to be in the driver's seat until a double-play ball ended the game. Marion McLean battled in his at-bat, but with two strikes hit a ground ball directly to the second baseman which began the 4-6-3 dagger.
 
Tyler Tuck (L, 2-5) started for the Dawgs and went 4.0 innings before a pitching change. Tuck allowed four runs (two earned) and struck out three. Jose Laboy bridged the final 3.0 innings and didn't allow a run while striking out four.     
 
Burtner again had two hits in the game and finished 2-for-3 and 4-for-8 on the day.