Another 4-3 final, but WBU wins this one

It was another 4-3 final score between Wayland Baptist and Mid-America Christian on Sunday afternoon at Wilder Field, but this time the Pioneers prevailed.
 
Just like MACU did in Saturday's first two 4-3 games of the Sooner Athletic Conference series, the Pioneers scored the winning run in their last at-bat to salvage the series finale and earn a much-needed victory.
 
After he slapped a three-run home run to tie the game in the sixth, Dawin Santos came up with a single through the right side to lead off the eighth. The second single of the day by substitute second baseman Danny Arambula moved Santos to third, bringing up William Flowers. The pinch-hitter grounded into a double-play, but it drove home Santos with the running run.
 
WBU closer Jose Suero relieved Victor Feliz to start the ninth and made sure the Evangels wouldn't have another final-inning running. After a flyout to right, a single provided the opportunity for the Pioneers to end the game on a 4-6-3 double-play.
 
The win snapped a five-game, conference-opening slide for Wayland (14-8, 1-5), which was swept in its first SAC series of the season by No. 20 Oklahoma City last weekend. It was the first league loss for MACU (15-6, 5-1).
 
Deric Trevino started for Wayland and left in the fifth after allowing the first three runs of the game in his final frame. Trevino gave up six hits while striking out eight and walking four.
 
Wayland put up its three-spot in the sixth after Arturo Disla led off with a single up the middle and Jake Green was hit by a pitch. One out later, Santos went deep for his seventh homer of the season. The Pioneers threatened to tack on a few more runs when Brock Webber delivered a two-out single and Justin Porter walked, but new MACU pitcher Luuk Ter Beek of the Netherlands, after a balk moved the threats to second and third, managed a strikeout to get out of the inning.

Feliz improved to 2-2, allowing just two hits with two Ks in three innings.
 
Next on Wayland's schedule is a Spring Break trip to Arlington to face former Pioneers coach Brad Bass and Arlington Baptist. The teams will square off in a single game at 4 p.m. Thursday, a doubleheader at 2:30 Friday, and another single at noon Saturday. The schools' junior varsity teams are set to play single games at 1 p.m. Thursday and 11:30 a.m. Friday.
 
Wayland will play two more non-conference road games against Jarvis Christian March 22 before returning to SAC play at home against Texas Wesleyan March 25 and 26.