KENOSHA, Wis. -- Trent Muscat and Andrew Luscomb hit back-to-back homers in a four-run second inning and Max Widmar pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning leading Wisconsin-Parkside to a 5-2 victory over Saint Joseph's and a split of the Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Augie Schmidt Field.

After being blanked over the final eight innings of game one, the Rangers used the long ball to take an early lead in game two.

Widmar led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second when Nick Janssen laid down a sacrifice bunt. The Rangers put runners on the corners with one out when Zach Thompson followed with a single to right. Muscat then delivered a three-run shot to left, his second homer of the season, to stake the Rangers to a 3-0 lead.

Luscomb then followed with his first home run of the season two pitches later to increase the Rangers lead to 4-0.

Saint Joseph's cut the lead to 4-1 with a run in the top of the fourth inning, but Wisconsin-Parkside answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jake Kolasinski drew a one-out walk and Widmar laced a double to left center and some outstanding base running allowed Kolasinski to score. The relay throw to the plate from shortstop Noah Powell beat Kolasinski, but the senior slid into the catcher's glove which forced the ball out of his glove and upped the Rangers lead to 5-1.

Wisconsin-Parkside starter Nicholas Rana sailed through the first five innings, but ran into trouble in the sixth inning when two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with no outs. Widmar relieved Rana and got Riley Benner to bounce into a double play and then retired the side by inducing a groundout from Brenden Rivera.

Widmar then nailed down the save, and the victory, by striking out the side in the top of the seventh inning.

Rana improved to 3-1 on the season as he pitched 5.0 innings and allowed just two hits and two run while striking out five hitters. Widmar worked a perfect 2.0 innings to post his second save of the season.

Muscat finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Troy Bittenbender had two hits. The Rangers also got base hits from Widmar, Thompson and Luscomb.

Saint Joseph's won the opener 3-1 behind three home runs and the pitching of Tasker Strobel. Benner, Jeff Hightower and Joshua Handzik all homered for the Pumas and Strobel pitched a complete-game six hitter with nine strikeouts.

Bittenbender had a pair of hits for the Rangers, while Kolasinski, Widmar, Nick Janssen and Muscat all had base hits in game one. Kyohei Makita drove in the Rangers lone run in the opener with a sacrifice fly.

Wisconsin-Parkside raised its record to 10-10 overall and 4-2 in the GLVC, while Saint Joseph's slipped to 17-7 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

The two teams will conclude the four-game series on Sunday (April 2) with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. at Augie Schmidt Field.