LAS VEGAS, N.M. – A day after dropping the series-opener against New Mexico Highlands, Wayland Baptist bounced back with a pair of victories Saturday as the Pioneers prevailed over the NCAA Division II Cowboys, 10-8 and 15-7.
The teams return to the diamond for game 4 Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. Central.
In Saturday's opener, Wayland (8-2) rallied from an 8-6 hole by scoring the four winning runs in the sixth. The rally started with two outs when
Arturo Disla doubled and
Jake Green and pinch-hitter
Matthew Unangst singled.
Dawin Santos then came through with a three-run homer to finalize the scoring.
The Cowboys made some noise in the bottom of the sixth, but reliever
Chase Jones shut it down with a pair of strikeouts. After a three-up, three-down seventh of Wayland, the Pioneers returned the favor as
Jose Suero came in for Jones and got a pair of fly-outs and a "K" to end it.
Connor Leach, who took over in the fourth for starter
Ty Jackson, earned the win after 1 1/3 innings of work, allowing no runs on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Suero was credited with the save.
Wayland finished with 11 hits, two each by Disla, Santos and
Mark Anzaldua.
In game 2, the Pioneers pulled away with a nine-run fourth. Wayland strung together six hits, including four doubles by Santos,
Brock Webber, Green and Anzaldua. The inning also saw two hit-batsmen and two walks.
Wayland tacked on three more runs in the fifth – on the strength of back-to-back-to-back doubles by Disla, Green and Unangst – for a commanding 14-2 lead.
The Pioneers' 15 runs came on 16 hits, three each by
Hayden Ingram and Disla and two each by
Tyler Latham, Green, Unangst and Santos. Green finished with four RBIs whlie Disla and Unangst had three each.
Derik Trevino improved to 3-0, surrendering four runs on five hits over four innings with four strikeouts and three walks.
Chris Lacher tossed the final three frames.
