Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY –
Tyler Adams pitched 7-plus strong innings before
Logan Evans closed the door to lead Wayland Baptist to a 7-5 victory over Science and Arts of Oklahoma in the first round of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament here Friday afternoon.
The win sends the Pioneers (33-21) into a second-round game at 6 p.m. Saturday against the winner between Oklahoma City and Texas Wesleyan, which played following Wayland's game Friday evening. Saturday's winner moves on to an 11 a.m. game Sunday, a step closer to Monday's noon championship in the six-team, double-elimination tournament that sends the winner to the NAIA National Championships.
Against USAO (33-16), which swept the Pioneers in their three-game series last month in Chickasha, seven Wayland players scored the team's seven runs. The Pioneers produced 11 hits, three by
Ethan Percell and two each by
Gaby De La Cruz and
Chris Buitron.
The game was scoreless through three innings, then Wayland scratched in the next three. A two-out triple by designated hitter De La Cruz got things rolling in the fourth. Catcher
Ernesto Lizardi drove in De La Cruz and Wayland owned a 1-0 lead.
The Drovers tied it up in the bottom of the inning on two singles and a balk, but it didn't take Wayland long to retake the lead with two runs in the fifth. USAO starter Jose Flores (5-1) walked Buitron,
Brayden Blackwell and
Aaron Vallance before
Josh Alexander's fielder's choice drove in a run. An RBI-double to left-center field by De La Cruz made it 3-1.
The Pioneers scored their fourth run in the sixth when Percell singled, went to second on a failed pick-off attempt, then scored on Buitron's single to left.
After the Drovers got a run back in the bottom of the seventh, Wayland put up three runs in the eighth.
Colton Palmer, courtesy running for Lizardi after a lead-off walk, scored following a passed ball and single to left-center by
Austin Davis. A single by Buitron chased Flores, who recorded 11 strikeouts while giving up 10 hits and four walks in 7.1.
Nine-hole hitter Blackwell greeted Isaac Rodriguez with a double that scored Davis before a sacrifice fly by
Will Bass brought in Buitron to make it 7-2.
USAO managed to get all three of those runs back, however, the first two when shortstop Nick Johnson hit a two-run homer. Wayland coach
Brad Bass brought in
Kyle Parriera for Adams (8-2), who left after giving up eight hits and two walks while striking out six over 7.1. Parriera recorded the second out of the inning, but an RBI-triple after a walk made prompted another pitching change.
Bass called on Evans this time, and the junior got the final out of the inning on a fly-out to right field.
The Pioneers threatened to add to their lead in the ninth, putting the first two batters on base via a walk and hit batsman. But a double-play followed by a walk and a strikeout prevented Wayland from scratching.
It appeared the Pioneers might need some extra offense when the Drovers got a double to lead off the bottom of the ninth. But Evans coaxed the next three batters into a flyout, a strikeout and a groundout to end the game. After posting a 6-0 win-loss record in 25 relief appearances, it marked Evans' first save of the season.
