Box Score ALPINE, Texas --- Sul Ross State University scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and hung on to defeat Wayland Baptist, 5-4, in baseball action on Tuesday afternoon at Kokernot Field.
The Pioneers jumped on top first with a two-run first, highlighted by Nick Noll's double. WBU got two more in the fifth on a solo home run by Aldo Mendez and a run-scoring double off the bat of Kevin Hennessey.
SRSU scored a single run in the second off WBU starter Jobi Sanchez, who went four innings, allowing just the one run on five hits. The junior from Plainview walked four and struck out three.
Holding on to a slim 4-3 lead after six, Wayland had a chance to get some breathing room in the top of the seventh when Miguel Pagan hit a lead-off double to the gap in left center and then advanced to third on Hennessey's flyout. Noll and Embery were both hit by pitches in back-to-back at bats to load the bases with one out, but the Pioneers were unable to put a run across the plate.
The Lobos rallied in the bottom of the inning when rightfielder Kurt Hurley slammed a two-run double down the left field line that gave his team its first lead of the contest.
Mendez got into scoring position in the eighth when he and Eddie Allen hit consecutive base hits with one out, but once again left runners on base.
The Pioneers, who outhit their hosts 11-9, stranded 13 runners in the nine inning contest. They grounded into two double plays, and struck out four times.
Coach Brad Bass used five pitchers in the game. Sanchez was followed by JT Huckabay, Scott Lacey, Ryan Heenan, and Alex Quinones, each of whom threw one inning. Heenan took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits. Quinones pitched a perfect eighth, sitting down the Lobos in order.
Wayland falls to 9-7 on the season. SRSU improves to 3-5. The Pioneers open Sooner Athletic Conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Wilder Field against Oklahoma City University. The Stars were ranked #7 in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
