LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Wayland Baptist and New Mexico Highlands went back-and-forth for 8½ innings here Friday afternoon with the Cowboys finally prevailing in the opener of a four-game series, 10-8.
The Pioneers (6-2) and NCAA Division II Cowboys (1-6) produced 17 hits apiece, with Wayland's clean-up hitting catcher
Jake Green providing four of those, including two home runs. Green opened the scoring with a two-run shot in the first before another two-run blast in the fifth.
Reigning Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Week
Dawin Santos went 3-for-5 for the Pioneers. He drove in runs in both the fifth and seventh innings, each time giving Wayland a one-run lead, 6-5 and 8-7.
But every time the Pioneers went ahead, the Cowboys immediately answered. They scored the winning runs in the bottom of the seventh when Highlands benefited from a pair of doubles, a single, a wild pitch and the lone error of the game to plate three runs.
Besides Green and Santos, other Pioneers with multiple hits were
Tyler Latham,
Hayden Ingram,
Cesar Lopez,
Mark Anzaldua with two hits each.
Three WBU pitchers combined to strike out nine, with starter
Tanner Solomon sitting down five of those while allowing five runs on nine hits in four innings.
Gloymer Cuevas was saddled with the loss after giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits in three frames.
Chase Jones threw the final inning.
WBU reached Highlands starter Hunter Waugh for 14 hits, scoring seven runs over six innings. Hunter Vancurler was credited with the win and Dominick Castillo the save. The trio struck out four and walked two.
The Pioneers and Cowboys return to Brandt Field for a doubleheader at noon (Central) Saturday, followed by another nine-inning, single game at 1 p.m. Sunday.
