Pioneers get back on track by blanking ENMU, 12-0

Box Score The Wayland Baptist Pioneers returned to the win column in a big way Tuesday afternoon at Wilder Field, blanking Eastern New Mexico, 12-0.
 
ENMU was a late replacement for Texas-Permian Basin, which had to cancel its trip to Plainview earlier in the week, and the Greyhounds brought a split-squad of varsity and junior varsity players from Portales, N.M. They were no match for the Pioneers (33-12).
 
Six pitchers combined on a two-hitter and Wayland's fifth shutout of the season. The third of those hurlers, Logan Evans (2-1), earned the win as he struck out four in his two innings. Starter Jonathan Frost fanned two and Taylor Bridges sat down three in their two frames, while Kevin Torres struck out one in his single inning. Kyle Parriera and Paxton Bartley also contributed an inning each on the mound.
 
After being swept in a three-game series by Texas Wesleyan over the weekend, scoring only two runs including two shutouts, the Pioneers' bats were resurrected against the Greyhounds. Wayland finished with a dozen hits, three by Gregg Veneklasen who had a two-run home run among his four RBI and two runs scored.
 
Relief left-fielder Hector Romero went 2-for-2 with three RBI. Seven other Pioneers ended with one hit apiece, including substitute center-fielder Taylor Grady who slapped a solo home run to lead off the eighth just before Veneklasen's shot. The dingers were part of an eight-run inning that put the finishing touches on the shutout.
 
Will Bass, who went 1-for-2 with three walks, scored a team-high three runs. Veneklasen and designated hitter Austin Hogan both scored twice.
 
Left-fielder Ethan Percell made a sensational catch of a foul ball in the second inning that saw the senior sprint to the fence, reach over, and stab the ball about at knee level.
 
Wayland, which stands in fifth place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings, returns to league play with its final regular-season home games this weekend against Southwestern Assemblies of God University (13-32, 3-12). The Pioneers and Lions play a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Friday followed by a single game at 1 p.m. Saturday.