Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 GRAND PRAIRIE – Texas Wesleyan entered Friday afternoon's Sooner Athletic Conference doubleheader on a nine-game winning streak, and even No. 22 Wayland Baptist wasn't able to slow down the Rams as the Pioneers fell at The Ballpark at Grand Prairie, 6-2 and 5-0.
It was the first time all season Wayland (32-11, 9-5 SAC), with one of the top offenses in the NAIA, was shut out and only the third back-to-back losses of the season for the Pioneers, who dropped into fourth place in the SAC standings. Texas Wesleyan (26-14, 10-4) moved into second place behind No. 12 Oklahoma City (28-12, 9-3). Southwestern Christian (31-7, 11-5) is in third while USAO (29-10, 8-5) is fifth.
The Pioneers and Rams square off in game 3 starting at 11 a.m. Saturday.
On Friday, Wayland had no answer for TWU pitchers Zach Aitken and Ricky Hull, both of whom went the distance. Aitken (5-3) allowed seven hits while striking out five in the opener while Hull (5-2) gave up eight hits with three strikeouts in tossing the second-game shutout.
Wayland hurler
Tyler Adams suffered his first loss after seven victories. In five innings Adams issued five runs (four earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts.
Kyle Parriera recorded the final three outs, giving up an unearned run on a pair of hits with two Ks.
The game saw no walks by either team.
Wayland scored the first run of the game in the first inning of game one on an RBI-single by
Gregg Veneklasen that drove in
Will Bass. The Rams tied it in the second, but the Pioneers went up again in the top of the third on an RBI-single by
Alex Mumm that scored
Aaron Vallance. TWU answered immediately, and this time took the lead with a two-run third. The Rams put up three insurance runs in the sixth.
In game two, the Pioneers never got their offense off track. Wayland's eight hits – two by
Austin Davis – were just two fewer than the Rams, but the Pioneers couldn't manufacture any runs. TWU turned two double-plays, and the Pioneers left six on base.
Taylor Bridges (7-4) took the loss as the lefty allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Jonathan Frost finished up, allowing no runs over the final two frames.
