Box Score LUBBOCK, Texas --- Sophomore Tom Bailey pitched seven strong innings to give the struggling Wayland Baptist Pioneers a chance against No. 11 Lubbock Christian at Hays Field on Monday night. The Chaps prevailed in the end, however, scoring the game-winning run with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning to grab the first game of the I-27 series by a score of 6-5.
LCU entered the game with the NAIA's third-highest batting average, but could not reach Bailey until senior second baseman Richard Bohlken's base hit in the bottom of the fifth.
The Pioneers held a slim 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning after Calvin Bass hit a RBI singled down the rightfield line to drive in Dilon Chancellor.
The Chaps finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth with two runs on a one out triple, a single up the middle, and a double off the bat of designated hitter Karl Seiter, who would record an even bigger RBI three innings later.
After a scoreless seventh, Josh Carroll, Wayland's junior third baseman, made it 3-2 with his eighth homer of the season, a two-run shot over the fence in left with two down in the eighth.
LCU finally chased Bailey in the bottom of the inning. Jordan Lewis led off with a single through the left side. The speedy Lewis, who had 16 stolen bases entering the game, was thrown out for only the third time all year by WBU catcher Oscar Rivera.
With one out, Ryan Burnaman drew a four pitch walk. Pinch runner Reagan Pearson tied the score two pitches later on Bohlken's double down the left field line, and Bohlken went on to cross the plate with the go-ahead run on the same play when the Pioneer leftfielder mishandled the ball in the outfield.
An infield single by the next batter, Jason Fisch, put an end to Bailey's night. The Chaps greeted new Pioneer pitcher Ryan Downs, who has missed the last three series with an injury, with a softly hit single through the right side of the infield and then another infield single to make it 5-3.
Needing two runs to tie, the Pioneer got a lead-off single from Brian Allen, who drove the first pitch he saw to left center. The sophomore first baseman advanced to second on a fielding error by the centerfielder. After a strikeout, Allen advanced to third on Rivera's ground out to the pitcher, and closed the gap to one when he crossed homeplate on a wild pitch.
Ben Christian walked and came around to knot the score at five on Chancellor's base hit up the middle.
Downs issued a bases on balls to the lead-off hitter in the bottom of the ninth, but then sat down the next two batters on strike outs. After hitting Bohlken on a full count, the sophomore righthander gave way to senior southpaw Kevin Burbank, who entered the game to face the left-hand hitting Seiter. Seiter worked the count to 3-2 and then drove Burbank's pitch into centerfield for the game winner.
Bailey got a no-decision, allowing five runs on seven hits in 7-2/3 innings of work. He struck out six and walked two, throwing 117 pitches. Downs took the loss to fall to 1-4 on the season.
Wayland got eight hits in the contest, two each by Colton Palmer and Allen. Carroll's homer was the only extra base hit for WBU. LCU ended up with 10 hits.
The Chaps improve to 24-11 and 12-4 in conference play. The going doesn't get any easier for the Pioneers, who fall to 12-27 overall and 3-13 in league play, as they play host to #6 Oklahoma Baptist on Thursday and Friday at Wilder Field. Thursday's doubleheader is slated to start at 4 p.m.
