Rucker delivers big hit in 9th as Pioneers win series vs. Bacone; final home games next

MUSKOGEE, Okla. – Nick Rucker's bases-loaded double helped Wayland Baptist score four runs in the ninth inning as the Pioneers secured an 8-5 victory over Bacone College here Monday afternoon, winning the Sooner Athletic Conference series against the Warriors. On Sunday, Bacone won the weather-delayed series opener, 4-3, then Wayland won Game 2, 8-1.

Ahead of its final home games of the season against 19^th-ranked Texas Wesleyan this weekend, Wayland moves to 24-16 on the season and 11-10 for fifth place in the conference, while Bacone falls to 13-24, 8-13.

Wayland trailed 5-4 going into the ninth but rallied to win thanks to clutch at-bats. No. 9-hole hitter Devlin Smith, the Pioneers' designated hitter, drew a walk to open the inning then stepped aside for pinch runner Hogan Penny. After Yaniel Vargas singled to right and Austin Moya flied out to right, the Warriors intentionally walked NAIA home runs leader Gregg Veneklasen, who was already 3-for-4 on the day.

That loaded the bases for clean-up hitter Rucker, whose double to left cleared the bases and gave Wayland a 7-5 lead. Matt Flores' RBI-single to center plated Rucker with an insurance run before the Pioneers turned it over to their defense.

Freshman Chris Lacher, who relieved senior starter Jonathan Frost with no outs and the bases loaded in the fifth when Bacone scored three runs, got the lead-off batter in the bottom of the ninth to fly out but then gave up a double and single, prompting Wayland coach Brad Bass to call on another freshman, Carlos Dominguez. On his third offering, Bacone's Alex Dominguez grounded into a Flores-to-Vargas-to-Foust, 6-4-3 double-play to end the game.

Lacher, who earned both decisions in a doubleheader split with New Mexico Highlands on Tuesday, picked up the win and improved his record to 4-2. Lacher allowed just one run on six hits with three strikeouts and no walks in 4 1/3 innings.

It was the fourth save for Dominguez. In his four innings, Frost allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits with three walks and a strikeout.

Wayland ended with 13 hits, three each from Vargas and Veneklasen and two from Flores. Smith provided a pair of RBIs, one on a two-out double in a two-run fourth and the other on a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

The Pioneers return home for their final games of the season against Texas Wesleyan (29-7, 16-2). The Rams take a 16-game winning streak into their home doubleheader Tuesday against Texas College.