GOODWELL, Okla. — In a midweek nonconference rematch Tuesday at Carroll Gribble Field, the Oklahoma Panhandle State baseball team (10-18, 3-12 SAC) fell 14-3 in seven innings against NCAA Division II opponent Northwestern Oklahoma State (15-18, 6-12 GAC).
A two-out rally in the top of the first put NWOSU up 1-0 through one frame. Tuesday's starting pitcher
Kage Ralstin settled in during the next two innings, however, and the Aggie lineup rewarded him by working across a pair of runs to grab a 2-1 lead.
The run in the second inning was fueled by a leadoff double from
Devin Lopez, a walk drawn during a lengthy plate appearance by
Jim Paredes, and an RBI single from
Andrew Valencia. OPSU's second run came on a homer off the bat of
Genesis Nunez, his team-leading sixth of the season, in the third.
Panhandle State's day unraveled in the top of the fifth, as the Rangers struck for seven runs before piling on five more in the very next inning to grab a 13-2 edge.
Lucas De Jong's single in the bottom of the sixth inning, which got by the NWOSU left fielder, plated
Juan Perez to briefly give the Aggies hope of extending the game, but it was not meant to be.
Ralstin led the Aggies on the mound by tossing the first three frames, allowing only two hits and one run while striking out four.
What's up next: OPSU heads to Plainview, Texas, Friday and Saturday to take on Wayland Baptist University (22-11, 9-6 SAC). First pitch of the opener is set for 4 p.m. Friday.