FORT WORTH – Hoping to salvage a win Saturday after being swept in Friday's doubleheader by No. 21 Texas Wesleyan, the Wayland Baptist baseball team instead suffered a 12-2 loss to the Rams to finish out the Sooner Athletic Conference series.
Wayland (15-7, 5-3 SAC) entered the weekend in first place in the conference but relinquished that role to the Rams (25-4, 8-1). The Pioneers now stand in fourth going as they strive to make up ground against Southwestern Assemblies of God (15-12, 4-4) at home next weekend, after a single, non-conference game at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Wilder Field against University of the Southwest (N.M.).
SAGU's Lions, in conference play, have lost twice to No. 11 USAO while winning two of three against both Central Christian (Kan.) and Oklahoma-Panhandle State. SAGU lost at home Saturday to OPSU, 12-10.
Against Texas Wesleyan Saturday, the Pioneers – who dropped Friday's games 10-2 and 10-9, fell behind early and never caught up.
The Rams scored four runs in the first inning, three in both the second and third, and their final two in the fourth. It ended on the run-rule after 6½ innings.
Wayland plated its lone runs in the fourth and fifth. In the fourth, designated hitter
Brendon Foust, the reigning SAC Player of the Week, singled to drive in first baseman
Dawin Santos, who doubled. Then in the fifth freshman
Ramon Cruz, batting in the No. 9 hole, scored after reaching on an error, advancing on a strikeout/putout, and two wild pitches.
The Pioneers wound up with six hits against Houston Glad (5-1), who struck out nine while walking just one in going all seven. Glad also went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI as the Rams' leadoff hitter.
Wayland used six pitchers, starting with sophomore Bryson Callaway, who suffered his first loss of the season after three wins. Callaway surrendered seven runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. Relievers
Kyle Eifert and
Chris Lacher gave up two runs and three hits each, while
Chase Jones allowed a run and a hit.
Nic Vasquez and
Cesar Paz finished the game, each with a hitless inning.
