4 homers, stellar defense help Pioneers past LCU

Box Score
The outfield fence at Wilder Field played a pivotal role in Tuesday afternoon's game between the Wayland Baptist Pioneers and Lubbock Christian Chaparrals. Gaby De La Cruz, Mark Davis and Damion Lovato did a good job sending balls over the fence for Wayland, while Pioneer outfielders Colton Palmer and Lovato proved to be experts at keeping LCU's long balls inside it. As a result, the Pioneers posted a sweet 10-5 victory over the rival Chaps.
 
In a game that began with a hearty wind, De La Cruz blasted two home runs while Davis and Lovato each had one as the long ball accounted for all but one of the Pioneers' runs in their highest-scoring game of the season. Meanwhile, Lovato in left field and Palmer in center combined to make three highlight reel catches apiece, including a home run-saving grab by Lovato.
 
Wayland (7-5) had a dozen hits in the nine-inning game, one fewer than LCU (5-5) in the battle of former Sooner Athletic Conference opponents. The Chaps left the NAIA and are in their first year of transferring to NCAA Division II.
 
While LCU had 13 hits, WBU pitchers Craig Cook, Cachot Duncan and Tyler Doolittle did an admirable job of keeping the damage to a minimum, thanks in large part to plays like Lovato and Palmer turned in. The Pioneers also turned three double-plays.
 
Cook (1-1) allowed nine hits, but the Chaps only put up three runs as the junior from Kearny, Ariz., struck out five and walked three. Duncan went 1 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit, before Doolittle came in to finish it up in the ninth. The Chaps got a couple of runs before Doolittle was able to close the books in the fast-moving game that lasted just over two hours.
 
After LCU scored in the top of the first following a pair of walks and a sacrifice fly, Wayland evened it up when Lovato homered to center to lead off the second.
 
The Pioneers then exploded for three runs in the third and four in the fourth to assume a commanding 8-1 lead. Designated hitter Davis' three-run homer, his third of the year, did the damage in the third before  De La Cruz got the first of his two dingers on a three-run blast to left in the fourth. Lovato also drove in a run with a two-out single.
 
LCU got two runs back in the fifth, but Wayland regained those in the eighth on De La Cruz's second homer of the day and the season. The Chaps plated the game's final two runs in the ninth.
 
The top of Wayland's order – Palmer, Aaron Vallance and Davis – turned in two hits apiece, as did De La Cruz who ended with five RBIs. Eight players scored runs for the Pioneers.
 
It was Wayland's second straight win over LCU. The Pioneers defeated the then No. 5 Chaps, 4-1, in the SAC Tournament in Shawnee, Okla., to end last season.
 
LCU, which leads the all-time series with Wayland, 22-75, will host the Pioneers in the teams' only other game this season on March 25.