Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
Wayland Baptist came within a hit and a couple runs of handing Oklahoma City University just its second conference loss of the season, but the second-ranked Stars fought off the Pioneers in Sooner Athletic Conference play Thursday afternoon at Wilder Field, 6-5. OCU also won the first game, 7-2.
Wayland will try to salvage a game in the series finale starting at noon Friday.
After OCU junior Matt Young held Wayland to just six hits and struck out 10 in Thursday's opener, the Pioneers found things more to their liking in game two.
The Stars (39-5, 16-1 SAC) scored a run in the first, but the Pioneers (18-22, 6-11) got two in the bottom of the inning – on a two-RBI single by senior
catcher
Ernesto Lizardi – to take their first lead of the day.
Unfortunately, it didn't last long.
The Stars immediately answered on the strength of a two-RBI double by Jerame Littell followed by an RBI-triple by Lane Milligan to go up 4-2. The Stars added another run in the third before Wayland rallied in the fourth thanks to senior first baseman
Caleb Davidson's two-run home run to right field, the third of the season for the lefty.
Now within 5-4, OCU's Shaun Corso hit a solo shot in the fifth, but the Pioneers got the run back in the sixth when Lizardi singled, Davidson walked and pinch-hitter
Derek Farmer slapped an RBI-single to left.
Wayland freshman pitcher
Collin Isbell, who relieved junior starter
Kevin Torres with two gone in the fifth, got the Pioneers to the bottom of the seventh still trailing by just a run, but the Pioneers couldn't get their bats going.
Against the top of the WBU batting order, junior closer Tyler Milligan came on and struck out the first two Pioneers before
Gregg Veneklasen lined out to the shortstop to end the game. It was Milligan's sixth save of the season while senior Mark Simon (9-0) kept his record perfect, striking out five and walking one while allowing six hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Torres (5-3) also went 5 2/3, giving up 10 hits while striking out none and walking two. Isbell recorded two Ks and allowed one hit in his 1 1/3.
Lizardi and
Hector Romero had two hits apiece for Wayland, with Lizardi and Davidson providing two RBI apiece.
In the opener, the Stars – whose loss to Texas Wesleyan in their last game on Saturday snapped an 18-game winning streak – came out raring to go, scoring three runs on three hits in the first inning off Wayland starter
Kyle Eifert.
OCU was up 5-0 before Wayland got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Romero and Venkelasen put together back-to-back singles to open the inning, then after Lizardi reached on a fielder's choice, designated hitter
Paxton Covel delivered a single up the middle to score Romero.
The Stars, however, came back with two more runs in the fifth. Wayland scored its other run on a two out, RBI-single to right by Romero that scored Grady, who walked.
The freshman Eifert (3-3) last 6 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs (five earned) on 12 hits with a strikeout and three walks.
Tristen Hefner threw three pitches to get the last out.
OCU's Young improved his record to 7-1.
Romero also had two hits for the Pioneers in that game, plus an RBI and scored a run.
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