MONTICELLO, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State hit the road for two games for a Friday night doubleheader opening a three game series. The Rangers fell in both games as the Weevils used an eight run third inning to take control of the first before closing out a 17-2 win.
In game two the Rangers jumped out to a 2-0 lead but a four run second inning gave the Weevils the lead in which they would not lose after the second. The Weevils closed out game two 6-5.
GAME ONE:
After the Rangers went down in order; Arkansas Monticello jumped out early on a leadoff home run by Thompson for a 1-0 lead. Dylan Collins worked around a walk and single after the home run to keep the game at 1-0 through the first. The Weevils extended their lead in the bottom half of the second inning on a solo home run by Austin before back to back walks set up a Woolf single to left center for a 3-0 lead.
The 3-0 lead helped gain momentum for the Weevils, setting up a big third inning after a double play escaped the Rangers half after back to back singles to start the inning. Arkansas Monticello scored seven runs in the third inning. After two walks and an error the bases were loaded with nobody out as Austin hit a grand slam to left field for a 7-0 lead. A home run, the fourth of the game and an RBI double capped off the Weevil big inning for a 10-0 lead through three innings.
The deficit for the Rangers grew to 13-0 before the Rangers got on the board in the fifth inning as Trevor Saire hit a solo home run to left field to start the inning. A double play helped the Weevils escape further damage.
However the Weevils were able to answer back scoring two more runs first on a sacrifice fly and later on an RBI single to center field scoring an unearned run. Rangers trailed 15-1 after five innings.
A two run home run in the sixth inning by Cancilla pushed the Monticello lead to 17-1 through six innings. Hagen Barcello hit a solo home run in the seventh inning for the Rangers second of the game.
The game closed out from there after a Brandon Holdren single that was all the Rangers were able to get as Arkansas Monticello closed out the 17-2 victory to take the opening game of the series.
GAME TWO:
Second game started strong for the Rangers as Bradey Bejarano singled to start the game before a Trevor Saire double set up second and third with nobody out. This led to a Brandon Holdren sacrifice fly to left field scoring Bejarano. Hayden Priest later hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Saire as the Rangers went up 2-0 to open the game.
Cole Rodriguez gave up a one out double but struck out the next two hitters of the Weevils to hold the Ranger lead at 2-0. The game changed in the second inning when the Weevils scored four runs. The inning started with three straight walks before a 2-RBI double by Lockett tied the game at 2-2. The inning did not stop there after a walk led to a run scoring on a wild pitch and later a sacrifice fly as the Rangers trailed 4-2 but Thompson was thrown out at third trying to tag up to end the inning.
In the third inning the Rangers were able to cut the deficit in half scoring one run on a Gavin Mendoza single to right field scoring Trevor Saire who reached scoring position after a steal. Rangers trailed 4-3 after three innings. Max McClain came into pitch after the leadoff man reached, escaping a bases loaded jam with two strikeouts. After the Rangers went down in order in the fourth inning Cade Phelps came in for a scoreless inning striking out one batter.
Northwestern was able to tie the game in the fifth inning as Hagen Barcello hit a solo home run to left center field for his first of the game but second on the day after hitting one in the first game. The Weevils were able to answer back with two runs as the first batter of the inning reached on an error. After Priest threw him out trying to steal for the second out. Austin of Arkansas- Monticello led to a solo home run to regain the lead at 5-4. Arkansas Monticello picked up two straight hits on an infield single and an RBI double to extend their lead to 6-4.
The game remained 6-4 in favor of the Weevils before the Rangers tried to tie the game at minimum in the final inning. A Trevor Saire single started the inning, setting up the tying run at the plate. Holdren later singled with one out before back to back walks forced in a run. The second walk was to Jon Shaffer picking up the RBI. The comeback attempt stopped there though as the final out was recorded with a flyout to right field.
Arkansas- Monticello closed out the win with the final of 6-5 picking up the sweep of the doubleheader. The series will conclude with a single game on Saturday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for Noon.
