After dropping the first game of their Sooner Athletic Conference doubleheader against Rogers State University, 9-4, the Wayland Baptist Pioneers got an outstanding pitching performance from sophomore Trevor Stringer to pull out an important 4-1 victory in the nightcap.
Stringer, who remains undefeated in 2009 with a 7-0 record, gave up just one run on three hits, and struck out four in 5-2/3 innings of work. The Lubbock Monterey High graduate got some great help from his defense, as well, led by third sacker Bobby Curtis who was involved in six outs in the contest, including two double plays.
Marcus Limon came in to record the final four outs of the contest to pick up his second save of the season.
The Pioneers scored all four of their runs in the fifth inning of the second game. Josh Lucas led the inning off with his second double of the day, this one down the line off RSU starter Randy Jones (2-3). Courtney Williams advanced Lucas to third with a sacrifice bunt, and Curtis came through with his bat, belting a double down the right field line.
One out later, Brett Cook was intentionally walked, but shortstop Eddie Allen laced a hit right over the second baseman's head to score Curtis. Brett Sheppard finished out the scoring with a two-run single.
In the first game, Wayland jumped out to a 4-1 lead thanks to Keith Martin's three-run homer in the fourth and an error by the Hillcat thirdbaseman off the bat of Sheppard in the fifth.
RSU's Travis Harold hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-2, and then the home team crossed the plate two more times in the fifth to tie it at four.
The Hillcats exploded for five runs with two outs in the sixth to take the game.
Todd Weldon (10-3) took the loss for the Pioneers, allowing five runs on five hits in five innings of work. The junior struck out four, but walked four and hit two.
Sheppard swung the hot bat for Wayland, going 4-for-5 on the day with three RBI.
The teams return to the field on Sunday at 1 pm to see who takes the series. WBU is now 34-10 overall and 13-9 in conference play. Rogers State is 27-15 and 11-11.
