Box Score LUBBOCK –
Josh Alexander had three doubles among his four hits, scored three runs and drove in three more, plus picked up a save, to lead Wayland Baptist to a dramatic 11-10 win over Lubbock Christian University on Tuesday afternoon at Hays Field.
Wayland – which finished with 16 hits, including seven doubles – jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second inning then fought off LCU the rest of the way, including in the ninth inning when the Chaps scored two runs before leaving the bases loaded.
It was the second road win for Wayland (10-8) over LCU (7-8) in two weeks, as the Pioneers won on Feb. 17, 7-4.
Up 11-8 going into the bottom of the ninth, Alexander went from right field to the mound, and it took him awhile to settle in. After walking the first two batters, Alexander hit the third to load the bases. The Pioneers then turned a critical double play when Stephen Withrow lined out to second baseman
Will Bass, who then erased the runner on first.
Now one out away, the Pioneers got it, but it wasn't easy.
An error on WBU third baseman
Gaby De La Cruz allowed one run to score, then another walk brought up Brett Wilhelm, who slapped an RBI-single that brought the Chaps to within one with the bases still loaded.
Finally, Alexander, ended it by striking out Hunter McFall, who went down swinging.
The Pioneers used six pitchers, giving up 10 hits, striking out 10 and walking out 10.
Taylor Bridges (2-2), who took the mound in the fifth, picked up his second win in as many games after fanning five in 1 2/3 innings. Alexander earned his first save.
Besides Alexander, whose three doubles give him eight on the year, other offensive standouts for WBU included
Aaron Vallance, who went 3-for-4 with three runs, and De La Cruz,
Ernesto Lizardi,
Austin Davis and
Dillan Vigil, all of whom had two hits. De La Cruz posted three RBIs, Davis two, and Lizardi and Vigil one apiece.
LCU committed a pair of costly errors. The first led to three unearned Wayland runs as part of a four-run first, and the second to another unearned run in the sixth.
After having last weekend's series at No. 16 Oklahoma City cancelled due to wintry weather, the Pioneers will try again to open Sooner Athletic Conference play when they host Southwestern Assemblies of God University in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Friday followed by a single game at 1 p.m. Saturday.
