Brent Weaver's lead-off home run in the top of the ninth inning ruined the Pioneers' hope of an upset over the top-ranked Oklahoma City Stars on a gorgeous Monday afternoon at Wilder Field. In a game drastically different from the two previous ones, Monday's contest was a tight contest from beginning to end with the final score 6-5.
The Pioneers went up 1-0 in the first on a Brett Cook lead-off double and a RBI single by Brett Sheppard, one of three hits on the day by the Pioneer catcher. Wayland picked up another run in the fourth on a Keith Martin solo homer, but the Stars got four runs on three solo homers by Brandon Moss, Steve Vitale, and Weaver, and a run scoring single off the bat of Jason Machado in the top of the fifth.
WBU tied it back up in the sixth on a Martin double, a walk, a hit batter and RBI singles by Cook and Todd Jeffress. Wayland went back on top in the seventh when Michael Prell hit a two out single through the left side of the infield to score Franky Busani.
David Mann launched a solo shot over the fence in right center field to knot the score at 5 with one out in the eighth. Jeffress came in and closed out the eighth for Wayland, but surrendered the Weaver long ball to lead off the ninth. It was Weaver's NAIA-leading 18th homer of the season.
The Pioneers got a pinch hit, one out single from Marcus Limon in the bottom of the ninth, but a fielder's choice and a strike out ended the game.
Wayland starter Christopher McNeil gave a gutsy performance on the mound, going 7-1/3 innings and kept the OCU hitters off-balance for much of the game with an assortment of off-speed pitches. OCU reliever Dustin Williams picked up the win in relief, going 3-1/3 innings.
The Stars improve to 25-1 on the season and 9-0 in conference play, while the Pioneers fall to 22-7 and 8-5 in the SAC.
