Box Score If score was kept based on hits, the Wayland Baptist baseball team would have swept Science & Arts of Oklahoma this week.
Runs are what count, of course, and as a result the reverse is true: USAO swept the Pioneers, following up Thursday's 9-5 and 8-6 victories with a 5-3 triumph Friday afternoon at Wilder Field.
The sweep solidified USAO's position atop the Sooner Athletic Conference as the Drovers improved to 27-4 overall and 14-2 in the league, while Wayland remained in fifth place at 21-14, 9-9.
Just like Thursday when Wayland outhit the Drovers, 9-8 and 11-10, the Pioneers – playing with a bit of a revamped line-up – again ended with more hits Friday, this time, 8-5. USAO's hits were more timely, however, and the Drovers took advantage of eight walks compared to just three for Wayland. USAO batters were also hit by pitches three times.
The visitors from Chickasha, winners of seven straight, scored a run in each of the third, fifth and eighth innings and two in the fourth. In those four innings, Wayland issued seven of its eight walks and all three hit-batsmen.
Trailing 4-0, Wayland ended the shutout in the bottom of the sixth when Brendon Foust singled then scored on Jonathan Ottenwalder's double down the left-field line. USAO turned a double-play to avoid more damage.
Wayland's final two runs came in the eighth when USAO starter Jose Hidalgo (6-1) sat down after 111 pitches through seven. With two away, reliever Corey Korenic hit Nick Rucker with a pitch before Foust homered down the left field line, his fifth of the season.
The Pioneers stayed within striking distance and went to the ninth needing two runs to tie. USAO brought in closer Angel Reyes, whose seven saves (including one Thursday) rank fourth in the NAIA. Reyes issued a lead-off walk to Devlin Smith but the Drovers turned a double-play on Paxton Covel's grounder to second.
No. 9 hole hitter Hogan Penny came up with a single to left, then Austin Moya singled into the hole at short to bring the winning run to the play in the form of Matt Flores. Flores, who went 5-for-6 Thursday, hit a weak grounder to second to end it.
Wayland starter Juan Arroyo (1-3) took the loss, giving up four runs on three hits with six walks and four strikeouts in 4 2/3. Brayden Price went 3 1/3 and allowed a run on two hits with two walks and four Ks, while Caleb Swofford pitched the ninth.
Wayland hits the road for its next five games, starting with a doubleheader at noon Tuesday at New Mexico Highlands. The Pioneers end the week in Muskogee, Okla., for a three-game SAC set against Bacone (10-19, 5-10), which is right behind Wayland in the standings.
WBU's next home games are April 13 and 14 against No. 18 Texas Wesleyan.
