The Northeast Texas Community College Eagles baseball team traveled to Ranger College this past weekend and found themselves on the losing side of a three-game series. The Eagles lost the first game 7-6 before coming back to win game two 8-2. Ranger took back the series in game three with a 7-5 win.
In game one, the Eagles tried to recover from a four-run deficit, but the late-game rally was unsuccessful. Despite the 7-6 loss, Northeast?s Nelson Torres lead the team with three RBIs and went 3-for-5 at the plate.
Torres homered in the top of the third, following a home run by teammate Jhosmel Rodriguez. The pair opened up the scoring for the Eagles, but a fielder?s choice and back-to-back home runs gave Ranger College the lead.
Ranger picked up one run in both the fourth and fifth innings, giving them an edge over Northeast. The Eagles inched closer in the top of the seventh after Darien Simms singled to center field, scoring Rodriguez.
Northeast?s big ninth inning was fueled by a single by Torres and a walk from Manny Garcia, but it wasn?t enough for a victory.
The Eagles came back in game two, outhitting Ranger 12-5. An early lead in the first inning helped secure the team?s 8-2 victory.
Justin Bundy had a great day at the plate for Northeast, going 3-for-5 and collecting two RBIs. In the first inning, Bundy got the hits going for the team with a double on a line drive to left field, and put the Eagles on the board after a single by Brady Batten. Northeast crossed home three more times off a ground out and two singles by Chase Talbot and Manny Garcia.
Bundy continued bringing the hits in the second inning, with a homer right out of the gate. Garcia scored after a single by Simms, who also collected a run after a dropped third strike. In the fifth, the Eagles mustered up their final run after a wild pitch.
Carter Gwynne was the lone scorer for Ranger College with a home run in the bottom of the fifth and capitalizing off a sacrifice fly in the final inning.
Jarod Bayless recorded the win for the Eagles. He allowed two runs, five hits, struck out seven and had no walks.
The Eagles looked to take the series in game three, but failed to make the most out of eight hits, falling to Ranger College 7-5.
Both teams jumped on the scoreboard in the second, each with one run. Manny Garcia gave the Eagles the lead with a two-run homer in the fourth, but the team couldn?t hold on after Ranger College picked up three runs from two hits.
Ranger strengthened their lead in the fifth after Ryan Dufrene batted in two runs with a hard ground ball to left field.
Northeast tried to erase their three-run shortfall, picking up two runs off a single by Taylor Barber in the sixth, but couldn?t quite knot the game. Ranger ensured their win with another run in the bottom of the eight.
The Eagles will return home for a doubleheader against Arkansas Baptist College Saturday, with the first game starting at 1 p.m.
February 21, 2017
