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HAWKINS – The Wayland Baptist baseball team is getting back some of its swagger.
After winning their last two Sooner Athletic Conference series against Bacone and then-No. 19 Texas Wesleyan, the Pioneers on Tuesday swept a non-conference doubleheader against Jarvis Christian, prevailing 11-3 and 5-0.
Wayland pitchers Chris Lacher, Deric Trevino and Chase Jones combined to give up two earned runs all day, with Lacher's complete-game shutout highlighting the statistics. In his first collegiate start, the freshman allowed six hits while striking out three and walking none. He needed just 77 pitches to complete all seven innings and improve to 5-2 with wins in his last three decisions.
In throwing the fifth complete game of the season for WBU (senior Kevin Torres has logged three and freshman Tanner Solomon one), Lacher allowed just three runners to reach third base despite four Pioneer errors.
Offensively, Wayland got all of the runs it needed in the first when catcher Derek Farmer's sacrifice fly scored third baseman Braeden Bomer, who singled and went to third on walks to shortstop Gregg Veneklasen and first baseman Paxton Covel.
The Pioneers added another run in the second, two in the fourth and their last in the fifth. They ended with eight hits, two each by Bomer and right-fielder Jacob Adams. Bomer, Adams, designed hitter Penny Hogan, Covel and Farmer logged RBIs.
The Wayland defense also had its struggled in the opener as the Pioneers committed two errors, but pitchers Trevino and Jones overcame. Trevino improved to 3-0 as he allowed just one run on six hits with five Ks and two walks through five innings. Jones twirled the final two frames, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk.
Wayland scored three runs in each of the first two innings then picked up five in the seventh. The Pioneers wound up with 11 hits, three by first baseman Brendon Foust as he logged his third three-hit performance in his last four games. He also finished with a team-best four RBIs and scored twice.
Shortstop Matt Flores tacked on two hits and three RBIs while Veneklasen, playing his traditional third, had two hits, two RBIs and scored two runs. Centerfielder Austin Moya also was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs. Nick Rucker also scored twice.
The wins boosted WBU to 28-17 while Jarvis, a member of the Red River Conference, dropped to 22-25. The victories completed the season sweep against the Bulldogs as Wayland also won a doubleheader in Plainview on March 20, 8-1 and 15-3.
The Pioneers now enjoy a 10-day break before their next outings against Southwestern Assemblies of God (11-33, 3-18 SAC) in Waxahachie April 27 and 28. That three-game series marks the end of the regular-season for Wayland.
