Pioneers hang another loss on No. 10 LCU

Box Score Wayland Baptist fought back from an early 5-0 hole, chipping away and ultimately coming away with a 10-8 win over 10^th-ranked Lubbock Christian University on a wind-swept Tuesday evening at Wilder Field.
 
Wayland (27-8) produced 14 hits – four by Ernesto Lizardi including a game-winning, two-RBI double down the left-field line in the sixth. That gave the Pioneers a 9-8 lead, then after adding an insurance run in the seventh inning WBU came up with some timely defense and clutch pitching – with Paxton Bartley closing things out with a strikeout – to seal the win.
 
Wayland has won four of the last five games against the Chaparrals (18-7), who came out Tuesday determined to avenge their 8-5 loss to the Pioneers two weeks ago. After the first three batters reached safely in the top of the second against WBU starter Jonathan Frost, Dillon Drury knocked a grand slam for a sudden 4-0 lead. Jaime Bustamante then made it 5-0 with a solo shot.
 
Undaunted, the Pioneers answered immediately with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Alex Mumm led off with a home run before Hector Romero slapped a two-out, stand-up triple to right-center that plated two.
 
Wayland tied it with two more runs in the third inning. After lead-off singles by Aaron Vallance and Gregg Veneklasen, Lizardi poked an RBI-single to left and Caleb Davidson had a sacrifice fly.
 
The Chaps scored their final three runs in the fifth, again taking advantage of a strong wind for a home run by Brent Stewart. Following a single and a double, LCU made it 8-5 with an RBI-groundout and sacrifice fly.
 
But once again the Pioneers had an immediate answer, getting two of the runs back in the bottom of the frame when Lizardi double and Davidson drilled a two-run homer down the left-field line. Wayland tallied two more in the sixth, and once again it was Lizardi getting in on the action. After Vallance and Mumm singled, the junior catcher doubled down the left-field line to score both, giving Wayland the lead for good.
 
Mason Taylor (4-3) handed the ball to Kyle Parriera who induced a three-up, three-down seventh. After the Pioneers tacked on another run by Austin Davis after he doubled and scored on a bases-loaded, two-out wild pitch, Kevin Torres took the mound and benefited from an inning-ending double-play when shortstop Vallance snared a line drive and got the runner at first.
 
Bartley, who earned the win earlier two weeks ago against the rival Chaps, came in to finish things off. After a lead-off walk, LCU benefited from an error on a double-play ball, and the Chaps were in business.
 
But Bartley struck out pinch-hitter and fellow Lubbock Coronado High School graduate Brennan Johnson for the first out. A wild pitch put the tying run in scoring position before Stewart lined out to second baseman Will Bass, who narrowly missed doubling-up the runner at second to end the game.
 
Drury, who hit the second-inning grand slam, stepped to the plate with the power to put LCU ahead with one swing, but Bartley struck him out on a full-count pitch to finish it and earn his third save.
 
The teams meet for the third and final team this year in Lubbock on April 26.

The Pioneers next host Science and Arts of Oklahoma, formerly ranked No. 24 before falling out of the Top 25 this week after dropping two of three at Texas Wesleyan. The Drovers (22-7, 4-2 SAC) defeated Southwestern Oklahoma on Tuesday, 7-4. WBU and USAO square off in a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. Friday before a single game at 1 p.m. Friday.