Box Score TONKAWA - After earning a 5-4 victory in the first game, Northeastern A&M's No. 21st ranked Golden Norsemen cruised to a 7-3 victory Saturday afternoon over Division 2 Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa on Mavericks Field.
Following a seven-day hiatus from the ball yard because of inclement weather, coach Roger Ward's Golden Norse (19-8) return home Sunday for a 2 p.m. double-header with the junior varsity of Ecclesia College of Springdale, Ark., at Homa Thomas Field. The Royals are 14-12 on the season.
Brad Antchak tripled to start the top of the third inning for NEO against the Northern Mavericks (9-18). Antchak continued home to give the Norsemen a 1-0 lead on a fielding error by Jeremy Smith in center.
After Daniel Johnson singled to start the fifth inning, Antchak stroked an RBI triple to right-center scoring Johnson. Antchak scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Ramon Laureano for a 3-0 NEO margin.
The Golden Norsemen added two runs in the top of the sixth inning after Alex Wise was hit by a pitch. Gabriel Fromental doubled to left-center scoring Wise. Justin Webb was hit by a pitch and Johnson reached on an infield single loading the bases. Antchak collected his third RBI with a sacrifice fly to left scoring pinch runner Nick Shiplett for a 5-0 Norse lead.
Golden Norse starter Michael Fusselman (2-3) surrendered four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to the Mavericks. Cesar Rodriquez singled to start the rally. After Hunter Schellhardt doubled, Manny Mendez hit a sacrifice fly to left scoring Rodriquez. Schellhardt scored on a wild pitch before singles by Orlando Collado and Casey Bowlen continued the inning.
A double to left-center with two outs by Smith scored both Collado and Bowlen and sending Fusselman to the bench. Jake Jewell allowed an infield single by Haskell Browning and Skyler Ortiz walked to fill the bases. Rodriquez struck out on four pitches to end the game.
Antchak's two triples and two hits by Johnson paced NEO's eight-hit attack.
Walks by Antchak and Kaleb Thomas along with a home run by Laureano (8) in the top of the first inning of the nightcap started NEO's scoring barrage.
A walk by Mendez and RBI singles by Shellhardt and Tanner Meyer off NEO starter Zach Cantwell cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the second inning.
Laureano singled and Alex Wise walked to start a three-run outburst by the Norsemen in the top of the third inning. Justin Webb reached on a fielding error by Collado at second base as both Laureano and Wise scored. Hector Candelaria doubled to right-center scoring Webb for a 6-2 cushion.
Three errors in the top of the fifth inning accounted for NEO's final run as the Mavs were guilty of five miscues during the game.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Schellhardt singled, stole second and scored on a RBI double by Meyer to close out the scoring.
Laureano produced two hits and three RBI while Candelaria added two hits and one RBI to lead the Norse.
Cantwell (5-1) allowed three runs on five hits in six innings before Cory Stiefel worked a scoreless seventh inning.