CHICKASHA, Okla. – Errors again helped do in Wayland Baptist as the Pioneers fell to University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma in Sooner Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon at Bill Smith Ballpark, 9-2. The win secured a series sweep for the Drovers, ranked the equivalent of 35
th in the NAIA, who won Friday, 3-2 and 9-6.
Wayland (24-17, 9-9 SAC) committed a season-high five errors, a day after recording four miscues in Friday's nightcap. Saturday's mistakes made for a couple of unearned runs.
USAO (27-15, 13-5) owned a commanding 7-0 lead after scoring two runs in the second in the third off Wayland starter
Tyler Wade (3-2), who allowed four hits while walking two and striking two.
Tyson Potts threw the final 5 2/3 innings, surrendering two runs on three hits with two walks and six Ks.
Drover pitchers Josh Harrel (7-3) and Claudio Rodriguez combined to give up four hits – singles by
Delvis Claudio,
Cooper Jauz and
Matthew Unangst, and a home run by
Arturo Disla – while striking out four and walking four. WBU was in danger of being mercy-ruled, trailing 9-0 after four, before Unangst broke up the shutout with an RBI-single in the fifth followed by Disla's solo shot, his ninth. Disla leads the Pioneers and ranks third in the SAC with a .421 batting average
It was the final road series of the year for Wayland, which winds up the regular-season with a pair of home series against 17
th-ranked Texas Wesleyan (30-11, 13-5), the SAC co-leader with USAO, next weekend and Southwestern Christian (27-14, 7-9) April 28 and 29.
