HAYS, Kan. – A season-high seven home runs wasn't enough to take down Fort Hays State on Wednesday as Northwestern baseball fell 18-16 on the road on a windy day that saw the two teams combine for 12 deep flies. Justin Bundy (4-for-5, 3 HR, 5 RBI, BB) tied a single-game school record with three home runs while two other Rangers had a four-hit game in the offensively charged matinée.

Things were looking good in the top of the 1^st when the Rangers found themselves with an early 5-0 advantage thanks to a pair of home runs from Jorin Van Amstel and Johnnuelle Ponce. After the Tigers answered with a home run of their own in the bottom of the 1^st, Northwestern picked up right where they left off and added four more in the 2^nd.

Left fielder Daschal Johnson hit his third of the season, a solo bomb to lead off the 2^nd before Judah Zickafoose clubbed a three-run shot to put the black-and-red up 9-1.

Fort Hays countered with a 10-run inning on a day where runs came early and often for both teams and added two more in the 3^rd to make it a 13-9 ballgame for FHSU.

Justin Bundy followed a Van Amstel double with his first home run of the afternoon to cut the Tiger lead to two, but Fort Hays once again answered right back with a three-run frame of their own. Bundy would go yard again in the 6^th and 9^th innings, but it still wasn't enough as Fort Hays State went on to take this one 18-16.

Up Next
Northwestern will continue their road swing this weekend when they head to Durant, Okla. for a three-game series with Southeastern Oklahoma State University. First year Ranger skipper Ryan Bowen will make his first trip back to The Ballpark in Durant after a five-year stint as the Savage Storm's lead assistant coach.

The Rangers will play a single 9-inning game on Friday, March 2 at 2 p.m. before closing the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 3 with first pitch slated for noon.

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