By Eric Scott
Athletic Communications
It was a tough day for Northwestern Oklahoma State University baseball Sunday afternoon as the Rangers dropped a pair of games at Arkansas-Monticello in Great American Conference player.
UAM got the best of the Rangers in the opener of Sunday’s doubleheader, 10-4. In the night cap, the Boll Weevils scored four runs in their final two innings for the 6-2 outcome. Northwestern (11-9, 2-8) and UAM (9-8, 7-4) will close the three-game set Monday at noon in Monticello.
Senior outfielder Justin Bundy had the highlight of game one at the plate with a two-run home run in the ninth inning. Carlos Andujar snapped a homerless streak with a solo shot that tied the game in the second contest. Bundy and Andujar were the lone Rangers with multiple runs batted in on the afternoon.
Of Northwestern’s five hits in game two, four were for extra bases. To go along with Andujar’s home run, Bryce Donovan, Johnnuelle Ponce and Jake Darrow each doubled. Donovan has hit safely in five straight games.
Game 1
Starting out the first game, it looked like the Rangers would be locked in at the plate as they put a run across the plate to take an early 1-0 lead. With two outs, Andujar and Luis Mendoza drew back-to-back walks to set up a Ponce single to left to plate the run.
Unfortunately, the Boll Weevils scored six unanswered runs before the Rangers were able to get a run in the top of the fifth.
Tanner Rutledge drew a base on balls to start the inning and Brock Randels picked up a small ball single. Following two straight outs with both men holding in place, Andujar singled to right center to bring Rutledge home to make it 6-2.
UAM put two runs on the board in both the sixth and eight innings to extend their lead to 10-2. In the top of the ninth and down to the last Ranger out, Bundy sent his sixth home run of the season out to right to cut the difference to 10-4.
Andujar reached bases for the third time in the game with a walk to follow Bundy, but would be stranded as the third out in the ninth was recorded.
Dillon Van Oosbree (2-2) took the loss after pitching 5.1 innings in the start, while striking out six batters.
Baron Phillips struck out two in 1.2 scoreless innings and Dax Jallo pitched the eighth inning for the Rangers.
Game 2
In the second contest, the Boll Weevils held on to a 2-0 lead before the Rangers were able to come by and tie the game with runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Andujar started the inning with a solo shot to right, his fourth of the year. After Ponce doubled two batters later, he eventually scored on a double by Donovan.
However, the Rangers were held hitless after that inning, while the Boll Weevils took the lead in the bottom of the fifth and added three runs in the sixth to bring the final output to 6-2.
Jacob Uhing pitched all six inning for the Rangers in the loss to move to 2-2 on the season.
The rest of the UAM series has been moved to March 13 due to weather forcasts.