MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball suffered a series sweep at the hands of the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders this weekend after dropping Saturday's games 12-6 and 11-2. The Rangers (13-17, 7-11 GAC) ran into the Great American Conference's top pitching staff with the Muleriders holding the offensive threat to just seven runs over the three-game span.
Game 1
A night after being blanked by Hunter Vasquez, Northwestern's hitters had their work cut out for them against another quality starter in Jacob Stroder (W, 5-2) who went eight strong innings while striking out 13. The Rangers were able to tag Stroder with a four-spot in the 2
nd on five base hits, but that would be all they could muster off the senior right hander.
Southern Arkansas jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 1
st after Northwestern starter
Cole Jackson issued back-to-back walks to open the game, before giving up a three-run home run to Jacob Richardson.
Northwestern would strike back in the next half inning with RBI singles from
Luis Cintron (2-for-4, BB),
Jorin Van Amstel (1-for-4), and
Justin Bundy (1-for-5, 3 RBI) to take control 4-3 in the top of the 2
nd. Bundy's three runs driven in Saturday pushed his season total to a team-leading 29 RBI's.
With Jackson retiring the first two batters he faced in the 2
nd, it looked as though the Iowa native was settling in after a tough first inning. But three straight two-out hits coupled with a missed ground ball by center fielder
Johnnuelle Ponce led to the Muleriders hanging four in the frame to take a 7-4 edge.
Sean Rydell took over for Jackson with two outs in the 2
nd to end the threat. The hard-throwing Rydell struck out five in his 2.2 innings of work, but the sophomore didn't fare much better against the Muleriders as he allowed four earned runs on five hits. Four more Ranger arms would combine for the final 3.2 innings, giving up just one run and one hit without walking a batter.
Facing an improbable comeback down 12-4 heading into the 9
th, Northwestern added two more runs in the inning with
Steven Deckard and
Greg Carrington crossing to bring the final score to 12-6.
Game 2
In the series finale, senior
Walker Wharton was roughed up for the first time this season going just 3.2 innings and surrendering eight runs (five earned) on five hits and a walk. The Muleriders opened the game with a three-run 1
st for the second time Saturday thanks to a two-RBI triple from Sam Mrstik who would race home on the play after a throwing error.
Northwestern got one back in the 3
rd when Lewisville, Texas'
Daschal Johnson blasted his fourth home run, a solo shot on a 2-0 two-out offering from SAU starter Kenneth Tabor (W, 6-1).
A 3-1 deficit was extended further in the bottom of the 4
th as Southern Arkansas put up six runs on four hits, three walks and a hit batter to make it a 9-1 game.
Judah Zickafoose continued his recent tear in the 6
th when he connected on a pitch from reliever Nick Starr to record his eighth home run of the year (2
nd in GAC). But the second solo home run of the game for the black-and-red wouldn't be enough to mount a comeback, and the Rangers went on to lose 11-2, dropping the series 3-0.
Up Next
Northwestern will have two days off before hosting GAC foe Southeastern Oklahoma State in midweek non-conference action on Tuesday, March 27 at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Okla. Tuesday's game marks the first of two games to be held this season at the historic ballpark that has served as the Ranger's second home over the past few years.
The Savage Storm (14-16, 9-9 GAC) are coming off a series sweep over Ouachita Baptist.
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