Baseball drops two to Arkansas Tech

 

Eric Scott

Rounding third for the first run of game two of Sunday's doubleheader against Arkansas Tech is Daschal Johnson (2). The sophomore has scored at least once in each of the last five Ranger games, and has recorded a hit in all but two games this season.

ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State University baseball dropped the final two games of their series with Arkansas Tech on Sunday, Feb. 25, falling 10-4 in the first game and 12-11 in the second. The Rangers nearly pulled off the impossible in game two as they hung eight runs in the bottom of the 7th to make it a one-run game despite facing a 12-3 deficit heading into the final frame.

Game 1

The Rangers sent right-hander Cole Jackson to the hill looking for his first win of 2018 after recording a no-decision in his only other start against Fort Hays State. The 6-foot-2 redshirt junior impressed in his 4.2 innings of work, not allowing an earned run to the Wonder Boys while giving up four hits and one walk.

After a triple off the bat of Dylan McDearmon, Arkansas Tech capitalized when a passed ball got by catcher Cole Anderson for the game's first run. But Northwestern would answer right back in bottom of the 4th as Judah Zickafoose (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) carried one high over the center field wall for a two-run home run to give the black-and-red the lead.

Northwestern picked up two more runs in the 5th with a Luis Cintron RBI double followed by an RBI single through the left side from lefty slugger Justin Bundy to give the home team a 4-1 advantage.

Matt Goertzen took over on the mound for Jackson, getting out of trouble in the 5th and tossing a clean 6th for the Rangers. But ATU tagged Goertzen (L, 2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER) for four runs in the inning on five hits (with an error), giving the Wonder Boys a 5-4 lead.

But the Wonder Boys weren't done there. A five-run 8th off senior Matthew Bickford (0.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 ER) capped off a 10-4 victory for Arkansas Tech.

Game 2

Head coach Ryan Bowen gave the ball to freshman Ryan Marcoccia for the third and final game as the Rangers were looking to rebound and take the series win. Marcoccia enjoyed some early run support as Justin Bundy drove in Daschal Johnson in the 1st and then Judah Zickafoose was plated in the 2nd to give the left-hander a 2-0 lead.

But Marcoccia's defense let him down in the 4th as two fielding errors allowed Arkansas Tech to score two and tie the game.

The Rangers would briefly regain the lead in the bottom half of the 4th when an errant throw down to third by Tech catcher Jake Harvey allowed Zickafoose to cruise home with a 3-2 advantage.

The Wonder Boys used a one-out rally in the 5th to put up six runs off Marcoccia (L, 4.1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER) and reliever Tyler Bernhardt, capitalizing on four hits and two more errors by Northwestern's infield. ATU would add four more in the 6th off sophomore Sean Rydell, sending the Rangers to bat in the 7th facing a 12-3 deficit in their final at bat.

That's when things got interesting.

Eric Scott

Ranger shortstop TJ Kassner (25) throws to first base on a six-to-three double play. Kassner is currently leading the Great American Conference with 49 assists on putouts this season.

Brady Bradshaw came off the bench to pinch hit in the bottom of the 7th, opening the frame with his first hit of the season. After a wild pitch moved him to third, Nathan Kane beat out an infield single to put runners on the corners. With Logan Jones drawing a walk to load the bases, Jorin Van Amstel drove the first pitch through the Arkansas Tech infield to score Bradshaw.

Things really started to get hairy for the Wonder Boys when pitcher Isaac Hale issued three straight bases-loaded walks, allowing the Rangers to make it 12-7 with just one out in the inning. Northwestern would continue their improbable rally, clawing their way all the way back to a 12-11 game before a fly-out to right closed the door on any comeback.

Up Next

The Rangers will hit the road for their next four games beginning with a single nine-inning game at Fort Hays State University on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Northwestern beat the Tigers in their home opener 7-6 back on Feb. 7 when the Rangers came out on top of a 13-inning game.

 

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