HOBBS, N.M. – Wayland Baptist realized its first lead as a softball program but couldn't hold on as the Pioneers fell to the University of the Southwest (N.M.), 4-3, here Saturday afternoon.
Wayland, which dropped its program debut to USW on Friday, 3-1, led 3-0 going into the bottom of the sixth when the Mustangs (4-8) scored all four of their runs. The Pioneers then went down in order in their final at-bat in the seventh.
"The girls played well again," WBU coach Enrique Villa said. "Clarissa (Rejino) pitched another good game. We outhit them but stalled out offensively. We left too many people on base. Our defense was solid with no errors on the field."
The Pioneers were credited with 11 hits, with shortstop Mikayal Carrillo going 3-for-4 and scoring twice,
Aaleah Rodriguez and
Madison Martinez 2-for-4 (with two RBIs), and
Reagan Davis 2-for-3.
The Mustangs ended with eight hits, five in their four-run final at-bat including a triple and a pair of doubles.
"USW hit the ball well in the sixth," Villa said.
Rejino (0-2) struck out two and walked two. A pair of USW pitchers recorded 10Ks.
The Pioneers continue their 12-game, all-road schedule with two games against Midland College March 3 and 4.
(Wayland is playing an exhibition schedule in 2023 before competing as a Sooner Athletic Conference team with a countable schedule in 2024).
