Defense rules in doubleheader split

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2





In a doubleheader between two of the nation's top offensive teams, defense dominated the diamond in Friday's doubleheader between Wayland Baptist and Science and Arts of Oklahoma (Chickasha). The Drovers edged out the Pioneers in game one, 3-2, but WBU took game two, 4-3.

In the opener, Wayland ace Tom Bailey went head-to-head with USAO's Chris Fischer. Bailey had better strikeout (6 vs. 3) and base on balls (none vs. 4) numbers, but Fischer allowed just three hits while Bailey gave up seven.

The Pioneers (27-11, 14-3) fell behind 3-0 as the Drovers scored a run in the third inning and two in the fourth. USAO (15-18, 6-11) recorded three hits in each frame, with the first three Drover batters in the fourth all getting singles. With the bases loaded and no outs, Bailey plunked Owen Adams to force in a run and make it 2-0. Wayland recorded the first out at the plate on a fielder's choice, but the next fielder's choice managed to get home USAO's third run.

After getting no runner past first base through the first four innings, Wayland's offense started to come to life in the fifth. Damion Lovato singled and Jovanny Padilla walked before Brayden Blackwell lined out to the third baseman and Lovato was doubled up at second. After Chris Buitron tried to keep the threat alive with a single, but Gaby De La Cruz
fled out to left-center field.

The Pioneers did do some damage in the sixth thanks to designated hitter Mark Davis' one-out, two-RBI home run to left field that also brought home Aaron Vallance, who was hit by a pitch. Lovato almost followed Davis' fifth homer of the season with one of his own, but USAO left fielder Warren Stehn made a splendid leaping catch at the wall and brought t back in.

After the WBU defense kept it a one-run game in the top of the seventh, thanks in part to a great catch by Pioneer catcher Padilla against the back screen on a foul ball, Wayland threatened to force extra innings when Blackwell drew a one-out walk. But Buitron struck out swinging and De La Cruz flied out to left field for the final out.

In game two, the Drovers jumped all over starting pitcher Mason Taylor in the first inning, scoring three runs before WBU had a chance to bat.

After the first two batters reached safely, Taylor struck out USAO's three-hole hitter, but then Rafael Pena singled to drive in the first run of the game. Warren Stehn followed with an RBI single of his own, before Eddie Malone drove in the third run of the inning with an RBI ground out.

Down 3-0 after the top of the first, Josh Alexander belted his sixth homerun of the season over the left-field bullpen, driving in Palmer in the process to cut the lead, 3-2.

Taylor, who had a miniscule 2.73 ERA entering Friday's game, settled in nicely after an abnormal first inning. Taylor got a quick 1-2-3 inning in the second, but was forced to come out of the game in the top of the third due to an injury.

Jose Urena (3-2) came in and pitched marvelously, getting out of a third-inning jam and going on to throw three and a third innings in relief. Urena didn't allow a run, giving up just one hit on the mound for the Pioneers.

Wayland tacked on two more runs to support its pitching staff, tying the game in the second before taking the lead in the third.

Padilla, who played victim to numerous outstanding defensive plays, got his only hit of the game to lead off the second inning, doubling down the left field line. Blackwell laid down a nice sacrifice bunt to move courtesy runner Josh Vera to third, and De La Cruz finished the job with a sacrifice fly to center, tying the game, 3-3.

Lovato followed suit in the third inning, driving in Vallance with a sacrifice fly to center after Alexander loaded the bases with a one-out walk. Lovato's team-leading 32^nd RBI of the year gave Wayland the lead for good, 4-3.

Looking for a doubleheader sweep, the Drovers didn't go down easy, getting runners on first and second in the top of the sixth, threatening to tie the game. Cachot Duncan came in to extinguish the fire, though, getting pinch hitter Joe Black to strike out looking, ending the inning.

In the home half of the sixth, the Pioneers got runners on second and third with no outs, but Mike Ross, the Drovers' skipper, brought in side-armer Isaac Rodriguez.

Despite pitching in just 22 innings, Rodriguez is third on the Drover's team in strike outs (28), and added three more victims to his list Friday evening. The junior out of Chandler, Ariz. came in and struck out the side to end the threat, keeping USAO's hopes alive.

The Drovers got their lead-off man aboard in their final at bat with a swinging bunt, before getting runners at second and third after a Padilla tried to make a play on a good bunt right down the first base line, but threw the ball into the outfield.

With the infield in, Duncan got a ground ball right to Vallance at short. Vallance checked the runner at third and fired over to first to record the first out.
Wayland intentionally walked Jaime Gurrola, loading the bases in hopes of getting a game-ending double play.

The strategy paid off as the Drovers' clean-up hitter grounded to short, where Vallance flipped the ball to Blackwell at second who threw over to De La Cruz at first. De La Cruz made a great pick at first, saving the game to give the Pioneers the win, 4-3.

The Pioneers, still in first place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings after losses by Oklahoma Baptist and Oklahoma City, will play the Drovers at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Wilder Field in the series' rubber match.