JOPLIN, Mo. – It was a comeback weekend for the Northwestern Oklahoma State University baseball team as they bounced back from a game one loss on Saturday to win two straight and close the series with a victory on Sunday at Missouri Southern State in Joplin.
Northwestern battled back in both wins over the weekend, including a 7-3 victory Sunday afternoon. The Rangers moved to 6-1 on this season with the win to tie the 2013 team for the best start by the program as a member of the NCAA.
It was also the team’s six straight series victory dating back to the 2018 season when they closed the year with four series wins in a row.
The Rangers are home for a mid-week contest Tuesday afternoon when they host Northeastern State at 3 p.m. at Glass Family Field at Myers Stadium, before beginning Great American Conference play on Friday at Southern Nazarene with the first of three games.
Northwestern started the game with a 1-0 lead Sunday afternoon when Carlos Andujar reached base in the seven straight game with a single up the middle and scored as he was followed by Luis Mendoza with a double to left center.
Mendoza now has a five-game hit streak and also reached in all seven contests this season.
After the Tigers answered in the bottom of the first, Justin Bundy’s bat came alive in the top of the third. The senior hit a two-run home run over the wall in right center that scored Andujar, who reached to lead off the inning, for the second time in the game.
The home run was Bundy’s third of the season.
With the game tied at three following a MSSU run in the bottom of the sixth, the Rangers took the lead in the top of the seventh. Already with two outs on the board, Brock Randels laid down a bunt and was awarded a hit. However, he moved to second on an errant throw, which set up Mendoza for his second RBI double on the afternoon to make it 4-3.
Northwestern got three insurance runs in the top half of the ninth inning. Luis Cintron drew a four pitch walk to start the inning and Mendoza reached yet again with a walk of his own. The Tigers promptly made a pitching change and Johnnuelle Ponce welcomed the new hurler to the game with a three-run shot, his second of the year, to make it 7-3.
Kaleb Honea took the mound for the Rangers in the ninth and struck out two to close the game.
Jacob Uhing earned his second win of the season in relief for the Rangers with a strikeout in a hitless inning of work. Koby Spicer pitched well by not allowing a hit in 1.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts to set up Honea’s final inning.
Brandon Nesseralla took the ball to start the game for the Rangers and struck out five in 5.1 innings.
Mendoza now has four doubles this season as his pair of extra base hits this afternoon as he moved his average to .500 on the season. Andujar raised his average to .520 after a 2-for-3 day.
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