NWOSU Fall Report: Rangers Look to "Knock Down Doors"

The Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU) Rangers enter the 2026 season riding a wave of historic momentum under Head Coach Ryan Bowen. Now in his ninth season at the helm, Bowen has led the program to a 187-176 record and, more importantly, back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time in the school's Division II era. The 2025 campaign saw the Rangers finish with a 30-22 overall record (17-16 in conference play), culminating in their second consecutive Great American Conference (GAC) Tournament appearance. While the season ended with a hard-fought postseason exit, the program’s trajectory remains upward, defined by a gritty culture that Bowen describes as "determined to keep climbing and knocking down doors".

The Offense

The 2026 Ranger offense will look significantly different, as the team returns a mere 7.5% of its plate appearances from a year ago. The undisputed anchor of this new-look lineup is junior catcher Chase Gordon, who is the only returning player with more than 20 plate appearances from the 2025 squad. In 115 ABs, Chase Gordon hit .339 with 9 doubles, 4 HR, and 21 RBI, providing a steady presence behind the plate and a proven bat in the middle of the order.

To fill the void left by departing veterans, the Rangers have brought in a massive haul of junior college talent. Matthew Bailey, a transfer from Lower Columbia CC, arrives as a Second Team All-NWAC selection after posting a .414 OBP. He is joined by former teammate Blake Mattern, an athletic outfielder who recorded a .500 OBP and swiped 14 bases last season. The Rangers also added power potential in DJ Barrett and Jailon Goodfellow, the latter of whom posted 8 doubles and 12 stolen bases at Tacoma CC. Amari Goodfellow further bolsters the outfield after hitting .300 with 30 RBI and just 12 strikeouts in 142 PAs.

On the dirt, Cole Barton brings a prestigious defensive pedigree as a back-to-back All-Region Gold Glove winner, while Tyler Hogan and Levi Joyce add high-contact bats to the infield; Hogan notably struck out only 12 times in 147 PAs last spring. Speed will also be a factor with the arrival of Alex Dabrowski, who hit .349 and stole 20 bases at Cochise JC, and Trey Gray, who swiped 9 bags last year.

The Pitching Staff

While the offense is in transition, the pitching staff is the Rangers' bedrock, returning 57.1% of its innings from 2025. Senior Will Kates leads the rotation as a First Team All-GAC and Second Team All-Central Region selection. Last season, he posted a 6-3 record with a 2.54 ERA in 78.0 IP, striking out 56 batters and ranking 2nd in the conference in ERA.

Complementing him is sophomore Logan Sandoval, the reigning GAC Freshman of the Year, who finished with a 4-3 record and 4.82 ERA in 46.2 IP. Kaden Spray also returns to the mix after serving as a versatile swingman, pitching to a 3-0 record with a 4.70 ERA in 38.1 IP.

The bullpen remains experienced with the return of seniors Kyle Holzer and Elias Herrera. Kyle Holzer went 1-0 with a 4.98 ERA in 21.2 IP, while Elias Herrera led all Ranger relievers with 41.1 innings pitched, recording a 3-1 record and 28 strikeouts. The relief corps is further strengthened by Ryan McClaskey, a transfer who dominated at Lower Columbia CC with a 0.93 ERA. Bowen also added depth with Alex Figueroa, who went 3-1 with a 3.61 ERA in relief at Cochise JC, and Nathan Nunez, a versatile arm from Rose State. Rounding out the staff are Division I transfer Trey Barkman, and the Ellsworth CC duo of Alex Stewart and Dominic Wade, who are expected to play significant roles in relief.

Key Departures

The Rangers must replace a historic senior class that earned six All-Conference honors in 2025. Carson Wright (Second Team All-GAC) leaves a massive hole in the outfield after hitting .327 in 205 ABs with 11 HR and 52 RBI. The infield loses Third Team All-GAC selections Connor Green, who hit .360 in 200 ABs with 47 RBI, and Hagen Barcello, who hit .323 in 201 ABs with 42 RBI. Also departing are Third Team All-GAC honorees Colby Grace (165 ABs, .309 BA, 6 HR) and Chad Green (147 ABs, .340 BA, 9 HR). Outfielder Dylan Bradford, a Third Team All-GAC and All-Defensive Team member who hit .350 in 183 ABs, also concludes his Ranger career.

Schedule & Outlook

The 2026 schedule begins with a four-game road trip to Lakewood, CO, where the Rangers face Colorado Christian University starting January 30. The home opener at Glass Family Field is set for February 3 against Newman University

The conference slate will be a gauntlet, featuring matchups against regional powerhouses. The Rangers face Harding University (February 13), the defending GAC Tournament Champions who won 41 games and reached the Central Regional in 2025. A critical series against Southern Arkansas University (March 13), a 31-win team and GAC Tournament participant, looms in mid-March.

Other notable home matchups include a midweek against Washburn University (March 4), coming off a 28-25 season, and Rogers State University (March 10), which posted 29 wins in the MIAA last year. The regular season concludes with a rivalry series against Southwestern Oklahoma State University (April 24-25) before the GAC Tournament begins on April 30. With a veteran pitching staff and a reloaded, athletic offense, NWOSU is poised to remain a factor in the GAC. If you value this in-depth, non-paywalled coverage of D2 Baseball, please consider supporting our independent reporting efforts. Your contribution helps us continue providing free access to all our articles without relying on restrictive paywalls. To support our work, please visit our Patreon page: patreon.com/diviibaseball