Gallery: (2-3-2023) Baseball vs NMHU 02/02/23
More solid pitching and hot bats came together to secure two more victories for Wayland Baptist on Friday – 10-4 and 9-3 – as the Pioneers secured a series win over New Mexico Highlands. Friday's victories followed a 13-3, 8-inning triumph over the Cowboys on Thursday and precedes the series finale at noon Saturday back at Wilder Field.
The Pioneers (5-2) and Cowboys (0-3) played Friday's first game in front of close to 800 Estacado Junior High students, including Cameron McMillan, the grandson of the late Tommy McMillan, Wayland's longtime baseball assistant coach. Cameron threw out the ceremonial first pitch to get the day started.
NCAA Division II Highlands, of Las Vegas, N.M., was in control of the opener after scoring three runs in the fourth inning for a 3-1 lead. But Wayland came up with eight runs in the sixth, the highlight a grand slam bomb by sophomore outfielder
Samuel Fabian, who hit a solo shot an inning earlier. Fabian also homered Thursday, giving him three blasts in two games.
Arturo Disla capped the big inning with a two-out, three-RBI double down the left field line.
Delvis Claudio drove in the first run of the frame with a pinch-hit, bases-loaded single that scored
Hayden Ingram, who hit a solo first-inning homer for the day's initial run.
Three WBU pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts. Starter
Tyson Potts fans six in 4 1/3 innings,
Connor Leach (1-0) sat down two in 1 2/3 and
Matthew Haynie struck out the side in the seventh. The trio surrendered only four hits but did issue eight walks in the 10-4 win.
Fabian finished 3-for-3 with five RBIs and two runs, while Disla went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Disla also went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs in game 2, which Wayland won 9-3.
In that game, Wayland scored three runs in each of the second and third innings and two in the fourth to assume an 8-2 lead. The Pioneers got two-run homers and doubles from
Jake Green and Disla, with Green's blast coming in the third and Disla's in the fourth. Disla also had a two-run homer Thursday while Green, in the lineup as designated hitter after catching the first two games of the series, finished 3-for-4.
On the mound, sophomore
Nathan Baca (1-0) shined, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking none in six innings. Freshman
Grayson Soukup finished up in the seventh with two Ks.
