Baseball takes series 2-1 after winning 25-11 slugfest over Harding

 

February 18, 2018



ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State baseball notched 26 hits in a 25-11 blowout win over Harding University Sunday to take a 2-1 series victory in the first Great American Conference action of the season. The Rangers launched five home runs (Daschal Johnson, Jorin Van Amstel, Justin Bundy, Johnnuelle Ponce, Harrison Hull) that accounted for 13 of their runs on a windy afternoon at Myers Stadium, including Johnnuelle Ponce's second grand slam in as many days.

The Rangers scored early and often in what ended up being the highest scoring game in GAC history (36 runs) and gave freshman left-hander Ryan Marcoccia plenty of run support to work with. The California native impressed in his third start going five innings without allowing a run to pick up his first win in the black-and-red.

First baseman Justin Bundy and catcher Harrison Hull each homered in a four-run 2nd to open the scoring. But the Rangers really broke things open when they hung nine runs on the Bisons in the 3rd to take a 13-0 lead early in the ballgame.

After a hitting a go-ahead grand slam in yesterday's 6-2 win over Harding in game one, Ponce was at it again as he smashed a fastball from Reed Roberts over the left-field wall for another grand slam and his eighth RBI of the series. Ponce (3-for-4, HR, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 RBI) reached base in five of his six plate appearances on the afternoon.

Northwestern added five more runs in the top of the 3rd after Daschal Johnson hit a three-run shot for his second of the season while Jorin Van Amstel drove in another run before Harding's Connor McVay was finally able to stop the bleeding.

Despite leading by 13, the Rangers knew it would be a shootout with the wind blowing 35 MPH+ out to center. The Bisons answered in the bottom of the 3rd with a four-run frame to cut into the deficit.

Justin Bundy (5-for-6, 4 R, 4 RBI) cashed in on two RBI's in the 5th when he smoked a double into the gap in right-center, scoring Van Amstel and second baseman Luis Cintron. Northwestern would tack on three more in the 6th thanks to a Van Amstel home run to make it an 18-4 game.

A previously quieted Harding dugout rallied in the 6th and 7th to post seven runs and cut the lead to 18-11, and with the wind blowing out the way it was Northwestern knew they needed to keep their foot on the gas pedal.

The Rangers responded with eight hits in the eighth to add another seven runs, including two doubles in the inning by junior shortstop TJ Kassner (2-for-6, 2 2B, 2 R).

Red-shirt junior Matt Goertzen was touched up for three earned runs in his first inning of the season. The 6'3" RHP had been sidelined for the first few weeks while dealing with discomfort in his throwing shoulder. Brandon Nesseralla threw one inning allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits before giving way to senior Tyler Bernhardt, who struck out the side in the 8th to seal the victory.

Northwestern would go on to win 25-11 in a run-rule shortened game to move to 7-4 (2-1 GAC).

Up Next

The Rangers will hit the road on Wednesday, Feb. 21 for a doubleheader against Cameron University beginning at 12 p.m. in Lawton, Okla. The Aggies (7-3) have three wins over GAC opponents this season and will be facing Southern Nazarene University on Tuesday before hosting Northwestern.

For the latest news and updates on Ranger Baseball, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit http://www.riderangersride.com

 

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