Pioneers split with Peru State

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 After absorbing a 15-4 loss to Peru State (Neb.) in the first game, Wayland Baptist came back to win game two Saturday at Wilder Field, 5-2, as the 20^th-ranked Pioneers won the weekend series over the visiting Bobcats, 3-1. Wayland took both games Friday, 8-3 and 12-6.

Wayland advanced its record to 8-6 on the season while Peru State, making its season-debut this weekend, went home 1-3.

WBU senior designated hitter/first baseman Gaby De La Cruz continued where he left off Friday by going 2-for-4 in each game Saturday, making him 10-of-16 for the weekend.

Ernesto Lizardi, DHing in game two after catching the opener, also had two hits, as did pinch hitter Hector Romero. The Pioneers wound up with 10 hits, including a solo home run by freshman Dylan Norris in the third inning that gave Wayland a 2-1 lead.

The Bobcats tied it in the top of the fourth but Wayland struck for two runs in the bottom of the frame thanks to a RBI-singles by Romero and Lizardi. DeLaCruz added an RBI-single for an insurance run in the sixth to account for all of the scoring.

Kevin Torres picked up the win in his first decision of the year, pitching 3 2/3 innings in relief of freshman Collin Isbell. Torres allowed no runs on three hits while striking out four and walking one. Isbell scattered five hits while allowing two runs with two Ks and four walks in his 3 1/3.

The Pioneers committed no errors in the game, unlike the opener when they were marked with four. That didn't help boost confidence in freshman starter Bryson Calaway, who in 2 1/3 innings gave up seven runs (five earned) on five hits with three walks.

Senior Taylor Bridges relieved and went 3 2/3, allowing four more runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Freshman Tristen Hefner struggled as he gave up three runs on two hits with a walk while recording one out. Freshman Mitch Naylor got the final two out, allowing a hit and the final run.

The Bobcats finished with 15 hits, six more than Wayland. Besides De La Cruz, who hit his second home run in as many games, Austin Davis also got a pair of hits for the Pioneers while Lizardi drove in half of his team's runs on a single and groundout.

Wayland returns to the field for four more home games Friday and Saturday against Mid-America Nazarene (Kan.) at 2 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.