By RANGER ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball came out on the losing end of a doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Missouri Southern State Lions on Friday, falling 18-3 in game one and 6-2 in the nightcap.
GAME 1
The Rangers managed to jump out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when left fielder Daschal Johnson manufactured a run with his speed, reaching on a walk before stealing second and advancing on a throwing error from the Lions catcher.
Just one pitch later, Johnnuelle Ponce drove in Johnson for the game›s first run.
But things would get ugly from there as the Lions hit their way to five earned runs off the Northwestern starter Ryan Marcoccia, making his first collegiate start.
Missouri Southern State put up six runs in the top of the fourth and never looked back.
Northwestern countered another crooked number in the fifth with a two-run inning, but it was too little too late as the Lions had already built up an 11-1 advantage.
After catcher Brendan Kates reached on an infield single, Brock Randels lined a double to right field. Johnson followed that up with a double of his own, scoring both runners to make it an 11-3 ballgame.
Missouri Southern continued to score runs in the sixth and seventh, eventually handing the Rangers a run-rule loss in seven innings by a final of 18-3.
GAME 2
Sophomore Sean Rydell was on the mound for the night game of Thursday›s doubleheader, and the right-hander impressed in his four innings of work, allowing just two earned runs while striking out five against the potent MSSU lineup.
After a lead-off walk came around to score in the top of the second, Rydell tossed a clean third inning before running into some trouble in the fourth.
Rydell surrendered a two-out RBI double to the Lions first baseman before an error by shortstop TJ Kassner extended the inning allowing Missouri Southern to take a 3-0 lead.
MSSU added another run in the fifth before Northwestern found their first bit of offense. Luis Mendoza broke up MSSU starter Seth Mesey’s no-hit bid with a lead-off single, setting up a 2-run blast over the scoreboard in left by Ranger catcher Harrison Hull to cut the lead to just 4-2.
But the Lions answered right back in the top of the sixth with a two-run home run of their own, handing the Rangers a 6-2 loss as they dropped both games of the doubleheader.
GAME 3
The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers fought their way to a 2-1 victory over the Missouri Southern State Lionson Saturday. Thanks to a gritty complete game performance from senior LHP Walker Wharton.
Last week’s Great American Conference Pitcher of the Week held a stacked MSSU offense to just one run while striking out eight in Friday’s series finale.
Coming off back-to-back losses to open the series, head coach Ryan Bowen sent Wharton (W, 2-0) to the hill in an effort to salvage the last of a three-game set with Missouri Southern. The 6›2 Texan needed just one hour and fifty-five minutes to hand the Lions their first loss of the season.
The Rangers landed the first blow in the bottom of the first when Jorin Van Amstel (2-for-4, 2 RBI) laced a double down the left field line to score redshirt sophomore Johnson (1-for-2, 2R, 2BB), giving Wharton some much appreciated early run support.
Van Amstel accounted for the majority of Northwestern’s offense on the afternoon, providing two hits of the Rangers three hits while and driving in both runs.
MSSU starter Corbin Osburn (L, 0-1) worked seven innings allowing just two earned runs on three hits, striking out 12 Rangers.
Osburn gave way to reliever Cam Bednar in the eigth who struck out three in his only inning.
Pitching to both sides of the plate and changing speeds, Wharton was able to strand seven base runners including leadoff doubles in three different innings.
The fifth-year senior walked just one batter and struck out eight in his nine innings.
Northwestern’s defense stepped up in a big way behind Wharton as they did not commit an error for the first time this season.
The lefthander kept his infield busy with a diving changeup that yielded 12 ground ball outs to a MSSU squad that hit a staggering 81 home runs a year ago.
The Rangers will hit the road for their next six games. The Rangers have games Friday and Saturday at Harding University.