Box Score One day after being held to a single run by Oklahoma Baptist, the Wayland Baptist bats exploded for 25 in a 25-0 blanking of Mid-America Christian University on day two of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament being held at Wilder Field.
Kevin Hennessey, WBU's senior first baseman, broke the school's all-time home run record with a solo shot in the fourth. It was his 20th of the year and the 44th of his career.
Pioneer junior pitcher Kevin Burbank went the distance in the game, which was shortened after seven innings due to the mercy rule. Burbank struck out six and allowed only six base runners on four hits and two walks. He evened his record at 5-5 in his first shutout of the season.
Hennessey and Eddie Allen had three hits each. Hennessey added a base hit and a double to the homer, and brought in three runs. Allen, the Pioneer's senior shortstop, was a home run away from the cycle with a two-run triple, a two-run double, and a base hit to center.
Back-up catcher Chris Lee was two-for-two. The sophomore entered the game in the sixth and got a single through the left side, and then hit a two-run homer to left in the seventh. Aldo Mendez also had an extra base hit when he tripledin the seven-run third inning, and Ben Christianposted three RBI on his two singles.
WBU had a total of 20 hits in the game off six MACU pitchers. The Evangels also committed six errors.
The Pioneers improve to 27-29 on the season. They take on Lubbock Christian in the final game of pool play on Friday at 6 p.m. at Wilder Field. Elsewhere in Pool B on Thursday, LCU fell to Oklahoma Baptist 6-5. OBU is 2-0 in Pool B, LCU and WBU are tied at 1-1, and MACU falls to 0-2.
MACU meets Oklahoma Baptist at 6 p.m. on Friday in Lubbock.
In Pool A, the Rogers State Hillcats, the fourth seed, upset to top-seeded Oklahoma City - ranked #2 in the NAIA - 12-8 in the opening game on Thursday at Wilder Field. RSU is undefeated in pool play, OCU is 1-1, as is USAO, a 5-2 winner over Oklahoma Christian in Lubbock's opener on Thursday.
OCU takes on USAO in the first game on Friday at Wilder Field, while Rogers State and Oklahoma Christian play in the nightcap.
