ODESSA – Wayland Baptist held a 4-0 lead before Odessa College – one of the top junior colleges in the nation – rallied to post a 6-4 victory here Monday afternoon.
"We played well. Once we tighten up the defense, we'll start winning some of these close games," Wayland coach Enrique Villa said.
The Pioneers (2-5) scored two runs in the first inning and two more in the third to go up 4-0. The Wranglers (21-3), ranked fourth in the National Junior College Athletic Association, slowly climbed back in it with a run in the third, two in each of the fourth and fifth frames, and a final one in the sixth.
"We faced some tough pitching but we competed at the plate and hit the ball well," Villa said. "Our kids are being aggressive at the plate. We need to play with that same mindset on the defensive side of the ball."
Wayland ended with eight hits and half that many errors, compared to 14 hits and three miscues for Odessa.
Pioneer pitcher
Clarissa Rejino went five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on 11 hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
Ashley Bauler got the final three outs, giving up a run on three hits.
Two OC tossers combined for eight strikeouts.
Offensively, catcher
Reagan Davis went 3-for-3 with a double while shortstop
Mikayla Carrillo was 2-for-4 and scored twice.
Aaleah Rodriguez had a hit, drew the team's lone walk and scored WBU's other two runs.
It was Odessa College's 20
th straight win. The Wranglers lost three of their first four games this season but have won every outing since. OC is coming off a 55-7 season and a third-place finish at the NJCAA D1 Softball National Championship.
Of Odessa's 21 victories this season, 10 have been shutouts.
The Pioneers next play a doubleheader at Cisco College beginning at 2 p.m. Friday. After that, Wayland has four more games this season.
(Wayland is playing an exhibition schedule in 2023 before competing as a Sooner Athletic Conference team with a countable schedule in 2024).
