DURANT, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball dropped the series opener to Southeastern Oklahoma State after the Savage Storm scored twice in the bottom of the 8th inning to hand the Rangers their fourth straight loss. Johnnuelle Ponce continued to dominate GAC pitching going 4-for-4 with a home run and a double.
After finding themselves in an early 5-0 hole, Northwestern fought back scoring twice in the 6th and used a six-run 7th to take the lead. But trouble struck in the 8th when the Storm plated two runs with a sac-fly and an RBI base hit as Southeastern would go on to win 9-8.
After winning his first four starts, senior Walker Wharton was roughed up in the 2nd inning as SOSU plated five runs capped off by a bases-clearing double off the bat of Travis Spinney. Wharton lasted six innings, surrendering five earned runs on seven hits with three walks and a hit batter.
Ponce got the Rangers on the board in the 6th with his fourth round-tripper of the season, cashing first baseman Justin Bundy. After a slow start to the 2018 campaign, the Puerto Rican outfielder has hit .405 in his last nine games, including a six-game hit streak that was just recently snapped.
The Rangers batted around in the 7th inning, notching six runs on six hits and capitalizing on a costly fielding error by the SOSU second baseman. Luis Mendoza (2-for-5, 2 RBI) drove in two with a single through the right side and Northwestern had all the momentum armed with a three-run lead.
Former Southeastern assistant and first-year Ranger head coach Ryan Bowen lifted his starter in the bottom of the 7th in favor of freshman Bryson Wrobel. A throwing error by shortstop TJ Kassner followed by a walk put runners on first and second for the Storm.
Looking to get a double-play, Bowen then went to low-ball pitcher Brandon Nesseralla with none out in the 7th. But a bunt-single set the stage for a big two-run double down the line in left to make it a one-run game with the Rangers still up 8-7.
With reliever Matthew Bickford leaving with the bases loaded in the 8th, Southeastern tied the game off Matt Goertzen when the runner tagged and scored on a foul out down the right-field line. The next batter cashed in the go-ahead run on a single to give SOSU a 9-8 lead that would go down as the final after the Rangers struck out twice in the 9th to end the game.
The tough loss moves Northwestern to 8-8 on the season and 3-4 in Great American Conference play. Bickford (0-1) was charged with the loss after throwing two-thirds of an inning and giving up the tying and go-ahead runs.
Northwestern and Southeastern were to wrap-up their three-game set Saturday.
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