Wayland Baptist's offense continued putting up big numbers when the Pioneers took on New Mexico Highlands on Tuesday at frigid Wilder Field. Once it was enough, once it wasn't.
After coming up short in game 1, 15-12, the Pioneers rebounded with a 20-15 victory in the nine-inning nightcap as Wayland – in its final outings before starting conference play – split the doubleheader with the Cowboys to move its record to 16-6. The NCAA Division II Cowboys went back to Las Vegas, N.M., with a 1-5 record.
In game 2, which ended with temperatures around 30 and a wind chill factor in the teens, the Pioneers trailed 13-8 before exploding for 11 runs in the bottom of the sixth.
In that inning, it was a handful of substitutes that came up huge. Among them were shortstop
Josh Johnson, who singled and scored twice; left-fielder
Jared Rodriguez, who singled twice and scored twice; first baseman
Paxton Covel and second baseman Trey Manard, who each slapped a three-RBI double; and centerfielder
DJ Daughtery, who knocked a three-run home run.
The incredible inning featured six hits and five walks.
Covel hit a solo homer in the seventh for Wayland's final run of the day and his fourth RBI, matching third baseman
Marco Rivera's total as he went 2-for-3.
The three-hour long game saw 15 hits by each team and a combined seven errors and 11 walks. Â
Wayland's run total matched its season-high total from a 20-3 win over Sterling, Kan., on Saturday and was the most for the Pioneers since a 23-21 victory over Texas Wesleyan two years ago.
Five Pioneer pitchers took the hill, with starter
Irving Munoz the most effective as he gave up two runs on three hits while striking out four over the first two innings.
In the opener, the teams took turns with big innings. Highlands was first with a five-run third as the Cowboys assumed a 7-1 lead. Wayland went on to score eight runs in the fifth to take a 13-7 advantage before Highlands immediately answered in the top of the seventh with seven runs.
The Cowboys wound up with 16 hits off four Pioneer pitchers compared to 11 hits for the Pioneers.
Luis Vargas got three of those, including a two-run home run. Rivera, who also homered,
Austin Moya and
Jacob Adams ended with two hits apiece.
The game saw 15 walks and five errors.
Wayland next opens Sooner Athletic Conference play in Waxahachie against Southwestern Assemblies of God (13-5), with a doubleheader Friday and a single game Saturday, both starting at noon.
The Lions had won nine straight before dropping a home doubleheader to Huston-Tillotson on Friday. The teams had a rematch in Austin Tuesday.
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