Pioneers let #4 OCU off the hook...twice

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Wayland Baptist twice had Oklahoma City on the ropes, but both times the fourth-ranked Stars managed to battle their way back to post a pair of Sooner Athletic Conference wins over the No. 12 Pioneers on Friday at Wilder Field.

In the series opener, Wayland let a 5-0 slip away and fell 9-6, then in game 2 the Pioneers couldn't hold onto a 5-1 lead as they allowed six runs in the seventh inning and went down, 7-5.

Wayland (15-5, 6-2 SAC) will try to salvage a win over the Stars (17-2, 6-1) in the series finale at noon Saturday.

The losses spoiled an otherwise big day for Gregg Veneklasen, who homered twice and had five RBIs, and Yaniel Vargas, who went 3-for-5, as well as Game 2 starter Jordie Henry, who allowed three hits and one run in six innings before leaving with that seemingly comfortable 5-1 lead.

Veneklasen got things cooking early for WBU in the first game, knocking a two-run homer in the first. He drove in another run with a single in the third when Brendon Foust contributed a two-RBI single to give Wayland a 5-0 lead.

Pioneer starter Kevin Torres (3-1) hadn't allowed a hit to that point, but the first was costly: a three-run homer in the fourth by Garrett Foster. The Stars picked up five more runs in the fifth off the two-time reigning SAC Pitcher of the Week and his replacement, freshman Chris Lacher. The big blow was a bases-loaded double by Foster that gave OCU its first lead, 8-5.

Jonathan Ottenwalder's two-out home run in the bottom of the fifth pulled Wayland to within 8-6, but the Pioneers couldn't muster any more offense, leaving a pair stranded in the sixth after OCU added an insurance run.

Wayland ended with eight hits, one more than OCU.

It appeared the opposite would be true in game two – the Pioneers would be outhit by the Stars but win the game – until a devastating seventh inning for Wayland.

The Pioneers built a 5-1 lead through six on the strength of a solo homer by Nick Rucker, a two-run shot by Veneklasen, an RBI-single by Foust and an unearned run. Four of those runs came in the bottom of the sixth, leaving the Pioneers with a four-run lead and three outs away from victory.

The first six OCU batters got hits: a single, a home run, three straight singles, and a double. The first four of those hits – most just out of reach of WBU gloves – came off Henry's reliever, freshman Bradden Kennard (1-1), who was spelled by freshman Carlos Dominguez.

Following an intentional walk to load the bases, still with no outs, the Stars' Shaun Corso came up with a tie-breaking, two-RBI single.

After Wayland finally got out of the inning with a strikeout then a double-play, the Pioneers got something going when Austin Moya walked and Rucker boarded on a one-out, infield single. OCU's Tanner Andrews came on in relief of Tyler Milligan and got the final two outs, including a hard-hit, line-drive to center by Jonathan Ottenwalder.

Henry ended with no-decision after giving up just one run on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks in six innings.

The Pioneers have dropped all three of their games since entering the NAIA Top 25 at No. 12 on Tuesday. Wayland has been ranked higher in only two previous seasons.