ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball was back at Myers Stadium for the first of a three-game series against Great American Conference opponent Arkansas Tech University. The Rangers rode another complete game performance from starting pitcher Walker Wharton to a 6-2 win over the Wonder Boys.

After surrendering a run in the 1^st, Wharton (4-0, 1.11 ERA) and catcher Harrison Hull seemed to have solved the Wonder Boys lineup as they worked seven straight scoreless frames before a solo home run came in the 9^th.  ATU opened the scoring in the top of the 1^st with textbook small ball, bunting over the runner before scoring Britt Stroth with a Riley Hickerson sac-fly.

Northwestern would tie it up in the bottom of the 2^nd when Hull drove in center fielder Johnnuelle Ponce with a single through the left side to make it a 1-1 game.

Third baseman Luis Mendoza (2-for-2, 2 BB) cranked his first home run of the season when he took a 1-0 offering from ATU starter Hayes Cox deep over the wall in right, giving the Rangers the lead in the 4^th.  Senior DH Jorin Van Amstel had a solid afternoon at the dish, going 3-for-5 to improve his batting average to a team-high .458 on the year.

The Ranger bats came through with some insurance for Wharton in the 8^th when they capitalized on three hits and an error to score four runs, extending their lead to 6-1 heading to the 9^th. Luis Cintron cashed in two runs with a base hit through the left side.

Cody Wescott gave Tech some late life with a leadoff home run in the 9^th, but Wharton regrouped to record the final three outs as he secured his fourth win of 2018.
 
Up Next
Northwestern and Arkansas Tech will continue their three-game series tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 25) at Myers Stadium. The two teams will square-off for game two at 12 p.m. with the 7-inning series finale to follow at approximately 3 p.m.
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