Wayland Baptist picked up two more wins over Adams State on Saturday, 9-6 and 5-3, as the Pioneers completed a sweep of the NCAA Division II Grizzlies in what was WBU's final non-conference series before the start of conference next weekend.
Following Friday's 1-0 and 8-6 victories, Wayland (12-3) came from behind in Saturday's opener, which saw Adams State (2-8) take a 5-0 lead after its first two at-bats. They did it with a pair of three-run innings, in the fourth and the sixth, and on the strength of five doubles and a home run. Two of the doubles came courtesy of right-fielder
Matthew Unangst while the homer was provided by
Jake Green, a solo shot in the fifth.
An inning later, Green came through with a two-RBI single during the three-run sixth that broke a 6-6 tie. That came after
Hayden Ingram drove in the go-ahead run with a single, after
Justin Porter was hit by a pitch and
Tyler Latham singled.
Wayland ended with a dozen hits, twice as many as the Grizzlies.
Gloymer Cuevas, in relief of
Deric Trevino who allowed four earned runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and four walks in five innings, earned the win with 1 1/3 innings of work.
Jose Suero threw the seventh, striking out two, to secure his fourth save.
Saturday's second game saw the Pioneers score two in the first on
Arturo Disla's single and another in the second on Ingram's double for a 3-0 lead. The Grizzlies pulled to within 3-2 in the sixth, but the Pioneers got both runs back in the bottom of the sixth on Porter's double.
Adams State tried to rally in the seventh, getting a lead-off home run then a pinch-hit single. But Suero, who relieved
Chase Jones to start the frame, struck out the next two batters before enticing a groundout to short to end it, earning the senior another save. Starter
Victor Feliz (1-2) picked up his first victory, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits while fanning nine and walking none in 5 1/3.
Six Pioneers provided their seven hits, with Ingram getting a single and double.
WBU next travels to Hobbs, N.M., on Tuesday to take on University of the Southwest (13-2) at 2 p.m. Central. The Mustangs have won nine in a row. That will be the Pioneers' final outing prior to their Sooner Athletic Conference debut against No. 20 Oklahoma City (11-1) Friday and Saturday.
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