Disla delivers again as Pioneers complete sweep

Arturo Disla went 4-for-4 and hit one of five Wayland Baptist homers as the Pioneers completed a four-game sweep of New Mexico Highlands on Saturday afternoon at Wilder Field, winning 14-3 in seven innings.

It was the second 10-run rule victory of the series, following a 13-3, 8-inning triumph in Thursday's opener. Wayland won Friday's doubleheader, 10-4 and 9-3.

On Saturday, Wayland (6-2) posted season-highs for runs and 13 hits, including the five homers, three of which came during the first five at-bats of the game thanks to Caleb Rozier, Disla and Carson Parham. Later, Cesar Lopez hit a two-run blast in the fifth and Matthew Unangst a three-run shot in the sixth.

Wayland, which also slapped five doubles, scored in five of the six innings it got to the plate, including four in both the first and sixth frames.

Disla, a first baseman who was in the lineup Saturday as designated hitter, completed a spectacular series with his most impressive game, getting a pair of doubles to go with his third home run of the series. Disla finished the four games 9-for-13 (.692) with 14 RBI and six runs.

Claudio Delvis wasn't too bad, either, going 3-for-3  

Sophomore starter Tyler Wade (1-0) was sharp in his 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out nine and walking two. Branin Seibert struck out the only batter he faced to finish the sixth before Arturo Nunez came on in the seventh when Highlands avoided the shutout with three unearned runs via a lead-off error, walk and two-out home run.

It was the season-opening series for the NCAA Division II Cowboys (0-4).

Wayland faces a big test in its next outing at the Cajun Collision in Sterlington, La., taking on No. 12 MidAmerica Nazarene at 6 p.m. Thursday. The Pioneers also face Benedictine (Kan.) Friday and Clarke (Iowa) and Tabor (Kan.) Saturday.

WBU then plays a four-game series at McPherson (Kan.) Feb. 17 and 18 before returning home to host another D-II, Adams St. (Colo.), Feb. 24 and 25.