HOBBS, N.M. – Freshman Justin Porter, in just his third game as a Pioneer, had three hits and drove in two runs to help Wayland Baptist to a 10-4 victory over University of the Southwest (N.M.) in the first game of a doubleheader here Sunday afternoon. In game 2, the Pioneers and Mustangs battled to a scoreless tie into the eighth inning when Wayland managed one run but USW answered with two for a 2-1 victory.
The Sunday split followed a Saturday split between the teams at Wilder Field where the Mustangs (6-6) won the series opener, 8-4, before the Pioneers (12-8) dominated the second game, 14-2.
Porter, playing center field for injured NAIA home runs leader
Luis Vargas, went 3-for-3. He had a two-run double to cap Wayland's six-run first inning.
First baseman
Dawin Santos went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Wayland ended with 10 hits, one fewer than USW, which stranded eight runners.
Deric Trevino earned the win, pitching five innings and giving up four runs (three earned) on 11 hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
Gloymer Cuevas finished it, striking out four.
In game 2, a pitcher's duel between Wayland's
Kyle Eifert and Bo Sims resulted in seven scoreless innings. Eifert went six, allowing five hits with five Ks before giving way to
Chase Jones. Sims struck out nine while walking four and giving up three hits – two to
Carlos Collazo – in his seven innings.
In the eighth,
Gregory Ozuna led off with a double then took third on a wild pickoff attempt. He scored when the Mustangs misplayed Santos' grounder to short. USW turned a double play to get out of the inning with no further damage.
In the bottom of the inning, the Mustangs' Brian Rodriguez drew a one-out walk befire Kevin Rase singled. After an intentional walk to load the bases, Bobby Galindo's single to right drove home the winning runs, with pinch runner Dair Ornelas barely beating the throw home from right-fielder Rivera.
Wayland is set to open Sooner Athletic Conference play at Wilder Field next weekend against Southwestern Assemblies of God University. The Pioneers and Lions (19-5, 2-1) play a doubleheader at 4 p.m. Friday and a single game at noon Saturday. SAGU won two of three against Oklahoma-Panhandle State at home this weekend, winning game 1, 5-3, and game 3, 13-3, but losing game two, 8-2.
