UOG Tritons fall in 9th against Rangers

University of Guam Tritons reliever Roke Alcantara Jr. in action against the Rangers in their Guam Major League game last Monday at the Paseo Stadium in Agana. (UOG)

GUAM—The University of Guam Tritons fell again in a 9-8 nail-biter against the Talo’fo’fo Rangers in the Guam Major League last Monday at the Paseo Stadium in Agana.

The Rangers got a head start against the Tritons, scoring once in the first and 4 runs in the second, making the score 5-0 at the end of two innings. However, the Tritons fought back in the bottom of the third to make the score 5-2, with a run by Jonas Shmull and Jathan Muña-Barnes.

At the end of the fifth, the score was 6-2 Rangers. The sixth was when the fireworks began, and the Tritons started to inch back into the game. In the top of the sixth, the Rangers brought in a run from Andrew Taijeron and Rolen Rabago to increase their lead to 8-2.

The Tritons switched pitchers in the bottom of the sixth, bringing in Roke Alcantara Jr. to close the top of the inning. Rico Seman started the bottom of the sixth with a double. With two outs, Jarren Gumataotao stepped up to the plate and hits a single RBI to center field, bringing the game to 8-3. Next up, Darren Eclavea hits a single to left field. Alcantara came next to continue the hitting streak for the Tritons, hitting a single RBI to left field, bringing in Gumataotao. With the game at 8-4, R.J. Miner hits a single RBI to left field, bringing home Eclavea. With the game at 8-5, back to the top of the lineup with Muña-Barnes, a wild pitch sends Alcantara home and sends Miner to third. Muña-Barnes gets out to end the inning as he hits a deep ball to right field. At the end of the sixth, the score was 8-6.

Tritons come back in the bottom of the eighth, first up, Gumataotao hits a triple, and an error at third base sends him home on the play. With two outs, Miner hits a single with a deep hit to right field. Muña-Barnes hits a single to left field, bringing Miner to third base. With an error at first base, Miner comes home to tie the game at 8-8.

Top of the ninth, game tied at 8-8, Dave Santiago hits a grounder, and an error at shortstop makes him safe at first base. With two outs, Andrew Taijeron went up to bat and hits a single to center field, bringing Santiago to third. Rabago hits a single RBI to left field bringing home Santiago, giving the Rangers the 9-8 win.

Losing pitcher Alcantara allowed five hits in the game but struck out four batters. Jarren Gumataotao went 2-3 with a triple and an RBI for the Tritons. Andrew Taijeron led the Rangers, hitting 2-3 with two runs. Higgins gets the win for the Rangers with four strikeouts.

The Tritons fell to 4-2 in the GML and moved into a tie for fourth place. The Rangers improve to 4-4 on the season, moving to seventh in the GML.

The Tritons will play again on Tuesday, June 7, beginning 7pm as they take on Linda’s Yankees at Paseo Stadium. (PR)