Box Score HOBBS, N.M. – Wayland Baptist belted 18 hits and scored in all but two innings as the Pioneers geared up for the start of Sooner Athletic Conference play with a 15-9 win over University of the Southwest here Wednesday afternoon.
In a game postponed from Tuesday due to cold weather, the Pioneers (9-8) scored the first eight runs of the game in their first three at-bats but then found themselves in a tie game, 9-9, after four. It was all Wayland after that, however, as the Pioneers outscored the Mustangs (2-8) over the final five innings, 6-0.
With their 18 hits, the Pioneers featured a number of offensive standouts, including sophomore catcher
Ernesto Lizardi who powered out a three-run home run to cap Wayland's scoring in the eighth inning.
Gaby De La Cruz also homered, while
Will Bass opened the game with a triple. The Pioneers also managed five doubles, including a pair from
Ethan Percell.
Austin Davis also had an outstanding day at the plate.
On the mound, Wayland employed a pitch-by-committee approach. After the Pioneers regained the lead for good with a run in the sixth,
Taylor Bridges took over for
Derick Spargo and threw two shutout innings,
Logan Evans put up a zero in the eighth, and
Michael Cowan finished it out in the ninth.
Wayland takes a three-game win streak into its conference-opener against 16
th-ranked Oklahoma City University (8-4), which is coming off a 1-0 victory at home Saturday over No. 7 Tabor (Kan.). The Stars have played their first 12 games at home, and will play their next three there as well as OCU hosts Wayland in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. Friday followed by a single game at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The weekend series is in jeopardy of being postponed by inclement weather, with officials leaning toward delaying the games until Sunday and Monday.
