ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Southwestern Oklahoma State took part in an historic contest Saturday as the two teams battled for 16 innings in the front half of a doubleheader.
The 16 inning game broke a Great American Conference record for the longest game, by innings. Unfortunately, for the Rangers, the Bulldogs came out on top in with a run in the top of the 16th for a 6-5 final.
In the night cap, the game look like it may go into extra innings yet again, but Southwestern was able to plate a run in the top of the seventh for another 6-5 final score in the final game of the season for the Rangers. Northwestern closed the 2019 campaign with a 23-26 record overall and 11-21 in the Great American Conference.
Matt Goertzen made the best of his final career start in the first game with a quality start after pitching seven innings and striking out four batters. It was the second quality start by the senior this season.
After the Bulldogs took an early lead in the first game, the Rangers had runners on the corners in the second inning when Justin Bundy took off from third and Luis Mendoza laid down a perfect bunt to tie the game at 1-1.
Southwestern again took the lead in the fifth before the Rangers responded in the home half of the sixth. Luis Cintron started the inning with a single, followed by a two-out single off the bat of Bundy, his third of the game. Bryce Donovan followed with a single back up the middle to bring home Cintron to knot the game at two.
The score held until the top of the 11th when the Bulldogs took a commanding three-run lead.
Donovan, who finished the first game 4-for-6 at the plate, led the bottom of the 11th off by reaching on with a single. Tanner Rutledge then drew a pinch hit walk and both runners moved into scoring position on a groundout. Jake Darrow then stepped in with two outs and sent a pitch into right center to score board runs and cut the deficit to one.
One of the faster runners on the Ranger squad, Darrow stole second best with Marques Paige and the plate. Paige then hit a high chopper to third, who threw the ball just wide of the bag, forcing the first baseman to miss play the ball. The errant throw allowed Darrow to round third and beat the throw at home to again tie the game at five.
The Rangers had a couple of threats in next few innings, but Bulldogs ultimately had the final blow with a run in the 16th for the win.
Game 2
In the second contest, the Rangers put up four in the bottom of the third to hold a 4-1 advantage early. Daschal Johnson started the rally with a walk and moved to second on a bunt single perfectly placed by Darrow. Following a wild pitch that allowed both runners to advance, Carlos Andujar singled through the right side to put the Rangers on top 2-1.
Later in the inning, Andujar scored on a bouncer to short by Donovan. The short stop threw wide of the second base bag in an attempt to force our Bundy who had previously walked, which allowed Johnnuelle Ponce to come around and score to extend the lead to 4-1.
After a home run in the top of the fourth helped tie the game for the Bulldogs, the Rangers answered in the bottom of the inning to regain the advantage on another error with Darrow coming home from third.
However, Southwestern picked up runs in the top of the sixth and seventh innings to seal the victory and the series sweep.
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