Baseballers complete season-opening sweep

After two impressive wins Friday, the Wayland Baptist baseball team came back Saturday afternoon at Wilder Field looking for two more, and they got them. The Pioneers rolled to 10-6 and 13-4 victories over York, Neb., to complete a season-opening series sweep.
 
First-year transfer Luis Vargas picked up where he left off on day 1 as the junior centerfielder went 4-for-4 in Saturday's opener, stroking a triple and a double while posting two RBIs. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Vargas knocked home runs in his first three at-bats as a Pioneer Friday and, after not playing the series finale, completed the weekend going 8-for-10 with nine RBIs and six runs.
 
Designated hitter Brendon Foust also had a solid game 1 Saturday, going 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Austin Moya and Marco Rivera added a pair of hits each.
 
Wayland's 2-through-4-hole hitters combined to go an eye-popping 11-for-13 with nine RBI and nine runs.
 
The Panthers posted a pair of runs in the first, but Wayland responded with four in the bottom when Rivera blasted a three-run homer. The Pioneers were blanked until the fifth when, trailing 5-4, they struck for four more, including a three-run shot by Foust.
 
First-year transfer Jess Pratt of Brighton, Colo., earned the way in relief of Jose Suero. Pratt pitched the final three innings, allowing a run on two hits while striking out three and walking none.
 
In game 2, the Panthers again got off to a solid start with a pair of first-inning runs, but the Pioneers again answered right away with five in the bottom. They came by way of RBI-singles by Andy McEachern and Foust, an RBI-double by Marco Rivera, and a two-RBI single by freshman catcher Riley Bennett of Plainview.
 
The Pioneers continued to add to their run total over the next three frames, assuming a 13-3 lead. McEachern and Rivera managed another RBI-hit each, Dawin Santos delivered a solo home run, and Gregory Ozuna drove in two with a triple.
 
McEachern wound up 3-for-4 to lead Wayland's 16-hit attack.

Junior Kyle Eifert of Amarillo got the win, allowing three runs on seven hits with a strikeout and a walk over four innings. Gloymer Cuevas, Jacob Guerra and Chase Jones pitched an inning apiece in relief.
 
Wayland continues its season-opening, 18-game home stand when the Pioneers host NCAA Division II Adams St., Colo., in another pair of doubleheaders at 2 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.