ALVA, Oklahoma — The University of Arkansas at Monticello baseball team held off a late comeback from Northwestern Oklahoma State to beat the Rangers 4-3 on Friday in the first of a three-game Great American Conference series.

The Weevils (10-6, 5-2 GAC) came out on fire early with three runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a two-run homerun by senior Corey Wood. Senior Kevin Fitzpatrick had an RBI-fielder's choice earlier in the inning.
 
From that point, UAM senior starter Zach McKnight (2-0) took over and retired all but three batters in the first six innings, giving up only two hits and striking out six. He ended up going seven full innings before being pulled in the eighth after walking the leadoff batter.

The Rangers (6-12, 4-3 GAC) got on the board for the first time in the bottom of the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly following a leadoff triple by NWOSU's Thomas Bess.

UAM added an insurance run in the top of the eighth, when Wood scored on a passed ball after doubling and tagging up to third on a fly ball. That run proved to be the difference in the game, as NWOSU took advantage of two walks to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning with a two-run single later in the frame by Jacob Long.

UAM senior reliever Chad Bradford put an end to the NWOSU rally by striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth inning for his second save of the year.

UAM outhit NWOSU 8-3 in the win, led by Wood's 3-for-4, two RBI performance. Junior Nick Piraino also had multiple hits for the Weevils, going 2-for-4.

The Weevils and Rangers finish the three-game set on Saturday with a double-header starting at noon.