Ranger College Baseball splits series at Wharton County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RANGER – In game 1 on Thursday, February 1, Wharton County Junior College defeated Ranger College with a final score of 3-0. Wharton County Junior College came into the game undefeated with a record of 4-0. Ranger College's record before the game was 2-1.
Wharton County Junior College took an early lead, scoring one run in the first inning. They extended their lead with another run in the third inning and secured the win with a final run in the eighth inning.
Wharton County's pitchers performed exceptionally well, limiting Ranger College to only four hits and no runs. Starting pitcher B. Panneton pitched five innings, allowing only two hits, and striking out eight batters. He was credited with the win, improving his record to 2-0 for the season. Reliever P. Watkins and closer C. Doucet also contributed to the shutout, combining four innings pitched with only one hit allowed.
Ranger College struggled to succeed at the plate, with Xavier Sanchez being the only player to record multiple hits, going 1-for-4. Joseph Lee started the game on the mound for Ranger College but took the loss, giving up two runs in 4.1 innings pitched.
Wharton County's offensive production was led by C. Castle and R. Beheler, who both had two hits in the game. L. Castillej and C. Pruitt provided the RBIs for Wharton County Junior College.
Game 2 was an intense baseball matchup on Friday, February 2, where Ranger College emerged as the victor with a 2-0 win over Wharton County Junior College in a pitcher's duel.
Ranger College's lineup struggled at times but managed to score two crucial runs in the fourth inning. Their hitters showcased determination and resilience throughout the game. Aaron Perez, the designated hitter, was the standout performer, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. His contributions played a pivotal role in securing the victory.
The game was highlighted by an exceptional pitching duel between Ranger College's Emir Encalada and Wharton County Junior College's N. O'Farrell. Encalada, who earned the win, delivered a stellar performance, pitching a complete game shutout. He allowed only four hits, walked one batter, and struck out an impressive 12 opponents. O'Farrell, though he took the loss, also displayed solid pitching skills, allowing only two runs on three hits in 4.1 innings of work.
Both teams showcased outstanding defensive skills, as no errors were committed throughout the game.
Game 3, also played on Friday, was not the outcome Ranger College had hoped for coming off the victory as Wharton County took the win. The final score was 7-3 in favor of Wharton College.
The game started with Wharton College taking an early lead in the first inning, scoring one run. Ranger College tried to catch up but only managed to score one run in the third inning. Wharton College responded with another run in the bottom of the third, bringing the score to 2-1.
Ranger College continued to fight back, scoring one run in the fourth and sixth innings. However, WCJC's strong offense couldn't be stopped, as they added five runs in the eighth inning to secure their victory.
For Ranger College, Andrew Perez and Donovan Crisostom were responsible for their team's runs, each contributing an RBI. Louis Castano started the game as the pitcher for Ranger College, allowing three runs in seven innings.
Ranger falls to 3-3 on the season. Ranger comes back home now for a 7-game home stand, starting with a rematch of Coastal Bend. The first pitch is set for noon this Friday, February 9.