Baseball 2/27/2016 11:18:00 PM

Bad start, thrilling finish Saturday for baseball team

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

While the day didn't start out very well for the Wayland Baptist baseball team, it sure ended strong.

Ethan Percell hit a pinch-hit, RBI-single to center field to tie the score in the bottom of the seventh inning, then Brayden Blackwell's two-out single through the left side of the infield scored Caleb Davidson with the game-winner in the eighth as the Pioneers wrapped up the weekend with a 4-3 win over Houston-Victoria on Saturday at Wilder Field.

In the opener, Wayland gave up 10 runs in the top of the first inning to MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), which avenged their first loss of the season on Friday to Wayland with a 13-5 victory. That snapped Wayland's 10-game win streak and was the Pioneers' first home loss after 10 wins.

In Saturday's second game, MNU walloped Houston-Victoria for the second time in two days, following Friday's 21-1 shellacking with a 19-6 drubbing.

The last of the weekend's six games between the NAIA teams was the most exciting.

Both Houston-Victoria and Wayland scored runs in the first inning, the Pioneers' coming on lead-off batter Will Bass' second home run of the year on the first pitch of the day from Steven Ellis.

Bass got what amounted to another home run – this one the in-the-park variety – in the sixth inning, although it was actually ruled a four-base error by the Jaguars' left-fielder. The junior second baseman hit a long fly ball that Robert Gleisener seemed to have under control, but he misjudged the fly and the ball ricocheted off the fielder, giving Bass a chance to make it all the way around the bases.

With the ball rolling away from the tripped-up left fielder, Bass – who had been running hard out of the batter's box – took advantage and was emphatically waved home. A strong throw from left field created a play at the plate, but Bass slid in just before the tag was applied, pulling Wayland to within a run, 3-2.

The Pioneers came up with some clutch offense to tie it in their final at-bat of regulation in the seventh.

With Caleb Davidson, who reached on a fielder's choice, and Hector Romero (pinch running for Brayden Blackwell after a walk), on base, Percell – who hit a grand slam Friday – lifted a one-out single to center that scored Davidson from second. Later, a wild pitch got the winning run to third, but Houston-Victoria got out of the inning when pinch-hitter Ernesto Lizardi popped up and Aaron Vallance flied out to right.

In the eighth, the Jaguars got their first two batters on base with walks from Paxton Bartley, who relieved starter Jordie Henry to start the sixth. After an error on Bartley a sacrifice bunt loaded the bases with no outs, but Bartley made up for his miscue when he fielded a chopper to the mound and started a home-to-first double-play, saving a run.

Following an intentional walk to reload the bases and gain a force-out, Blackwell recorded the third out on a ground ball to first, setting the stage for Blackwell's walk-off single.

It started after Gregg Veneklasen reached on an error by the Jaguars' third baseman before being erased on Jake Doyle's bunt. After Alex Mumm hit a towering fly ball that dropped just in front of the hard-charging right-fielder and after a called strike out, Blackwell came up to send the Pioneers home with a win.

The senior first baseman collected his 12^th RBI of the season on a hard grounder through the left side of the infield on the first pitch he saw that allowed Doyle to score the game-winner standing up.

Wayland ended with six hits, two by Blackwell. Bartley (2-0) wound up the winner, pitching three scoreless and hitless innings with three walks and two Ks. Henry issued three runs – two earned – on seven hits with five strikeouts and a walk.

In the day's first game against MidAmerica Nazarene, the Pioneers allowed as many runs in the first inning – 10 – as they had given up in any game all season as the visitors from Kansas rolled to a 13-5 victory.

MNU put up 18 hits – 10 in the first frame including a pair of home runs.

Hard-luck starter Mason Taylor (3-2) recorded just one out while allowing nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits. Logan Evans, Wayland's usual closer, relieved and went 3 2/3 before Matt Flores finished up with three scoreless innings.

The Pioneers got nine hits from seven players. Lizardi and Blackwell both went 2-for-3, with Blackwell tallying three RBI.

Having wrapped up an eight-game home-stand, Wayland plays its final tune-up before the start of Sooner Athletic Conference play against the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (7-10) in a single game starting at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Odessa. The Pioneers then travel to Muskogee, Okla., to face SAC newcomer Bacone (1-7) in a doubleheader Friday and single game Saturday. Action both days starts at 1 p.m.

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