MONTICELLO, Ark. – Northwest sophomore right-hander Trent Bunting will return to his home state of Arkansas next season after recently signing with the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

"Trent was a very dependable arm out of our bullpen and was always a durable person out there," Northwest baseball coach Mark Carson said. "He has a good command of the strike zone and that will continue to be a feather in his cap moving forward. We really enjoyed having him here and we wish nothing but the best for him at the next level."

Bunting wasted no time entering the Northwest lineup as a freshman, garnering his first career victory on the mound in the Rangers' 5-2 season-opening win against Calhoun on Feb. 9, 2019. His career-best performance came with eight strikeouts in six innings in a win at Itawamba on March 16, 2019 and he earned his only career save in Game 1 of the MACJC best-of-three playoff series against Northeast last May.

Bunting saw limited action in his shortened sophomore season and earned his only win in a 7-5 victory at Columbia State on March 4. The North Little Rock native finishes his Northwest career with a 4-4 career record, 4.17 ERA and 49 strikeouts.

Bunting is now one of six Rangers to sign or commit to the four-year level this season, joining Dalton Fowler (Oklahoma), Parker Stinnett and Brayland Skinner (Mississippi State), Jackson Smith (Mississippi College) and Landon Zizmann (Delta State).

Despite a shortened 2020 season, UAM compiled eight wins including six against opponents in the Gulf South Conference.