ALVA, Okla. – It was opening weekend in Great American Conference play and the Rangers hosted Harding University for the second time in as many years. Originally scheduled to be played in Searcy, Arkansas, the series had to be moved north to Alva to avoid inclement weather. Northwestern took the first game of the doubleheader 6-2 after a grand slam from
Johnnuelle Ponce but dropped a 9-1 decision to the Bisons in game two.
Game 1
Senior LHP
Walker Wharton toed the rubber looking for his third win in as many starts as the Rangers took on Harding in the first GAC game of the season. Because of the change in venues, the Bisons were the designated home team despite playing in Alva.
Wharton continued his string of dominant pitching as the 6'2 Texan held Harding off the board in his first five innings, allowing the Rangers to strike first.
Northwestern led off the top of the 6
th loading the bases with three straight singles from
Luis Cintron,
Jorin Van Amstel and
Justin Bundy, setting the stage for Ranger centerfielder
Johnnuelle Ponce. Ponce drilled a 1-2 offering from Bisons starter Austin Allen through a 25-mph headwind that cleared high over the centerfield wall for a grand slam.
But the Bisons answered back in the bottom half of the 6
th with two runs of their own, cutting Northwestern's lead to 4-2.
Wharton (7 IP, 5 K, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB) would strand a two-out single in the 7
th before being lifted in the 8
th for
Matthew Bickford. Back-to-back doubles by juniors
Greg Carrington and
TJ Kassner added another insurance run for Wharton, who's six runs of support were the most behind him this season.
Bickford was excellent in relief, shutting the door and picking up the six-out save in two innings of work without allowing a baserunner.
Game 2
Looking to steal a series win, the Rangers sent right-hander
Sean Rydell to the hill in the second game in search of his second win of the year.
The Rangers were roughed up in a tough second inning that saw the Bisons score nine runs off four different Northwestern arms. Rydell (1.2 IP, 5 ER, 3 H, BB, HBP) was lifted by head coach
Ryan Bowen in favor of reliever
Nick Llorente, but the sophomore was unable to record an our while walking two and allowing two earned runs.
Trevor Stone entered the game but fared no better, surrendering two more runs before freshman
Bryson Wrobel finally stopped the rally.
With a comfortable cushion, Harding starter Tanner Smith went the distance giving up just one run on four hits with a walk. The Bison hung on to win game two 9-1.
Up Next
The two teams will meet again tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 18) for the series finale at Myers Stadium. First pitch is set for 12 pm.
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