San Antonio, Texas – The Pioneers were able to split Friday's doubleheader against Our Lady of the Lake University to split the four-game series at two wins a piece. The Pioneers dropped the first game 3-1, but they were able to knock off the Saints in game 2 by a score of 6-1.
It was a pitchers dual between the Pioneers and Saints through the top of the 4
th inning with there being only one hit by either team, that being a double by the Saints in the bottom of the 1
st which didn't create a scoring opportunity after the Pioneers were able to execute a double play to eliminate any damage. The Saints were able to capitalize after getting two runners into scoring position in the bottom of the 4
th by driving a 2 RBI single up the middle, making the score 2-0 OLLU. The Pioneers responded immediately in the top of the 5
th as
Riley Watson was able to drive in
Samuel Fabian on an RBI single to left to cut the Saints lead in half, 2-1. The score stayed 2-1 until the Saints pushed across their final run of game one with an RBI triple, making the score 3-1. The Pioneers got the leadoff batter on with nobody out in the final inning, but they were unable to bring him around to score and suffered a 3-1 loss in game 1.
Juan Gil-Franco (0-1) made the game 1 start for the Pioneers and pitched a good game. He went 6 innings, giving up 5 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, and 6 strikeouts to give the Pioneers a shot to win the game. Gil-Franco only threw 76 pitches to get through his 6 innings of work.
Riley Watson went 1-3 with an RBI, and
Samuel Fabian went 1-2 with a run scored and a hit by pitch.
Game 2 saw the Pioneers give up their lone run in the bottom of the 2
nd off a Saints RBI single to centerfield. The Pioneers responded with a run of their own in the top of the 3
rd when
Jose Ayala drew a walk, advanced on a sacrifice and a wild pitch, and then eventually scored on a wild pitch. The Pioneers would jump ahead of OLLU in the top of the 5
th when
Danny Arambula hit a 2-run single to right field, and
Delvis Claudio hit a 2-run single to center field to give the Pioneers a 5-1 lead. Wayland Baptist would add one more run in the top of the 5
th with another RBI single, this time by
Arcadio Frausto, to push their lead to 6-1. The Pioneers slammed the door in the 7
th inning and claimed a 6-1 victory in game 2.
Felix Polanco (1-0) got the start for the Pioneers in game 2. Polanco went 5.2 innings, gave up 4 hits, only 1 run, 1 walk, and he struck out 6 Saints.
Grayson Soukup and
William Flowers went the final 1.1 innings for the Pioneers allowing no runs and no hits.
Delvis Claudio went 2-4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored.
Danny Arambula went 1-3 with 2 RBIs and run scored.
Jose Ayala went 1-2 with 2 runs scored and a walk.
Arcadio Frausto went 1-3 with an RBI.
Up next for Wayland Baptist is their 2024 home opener against Tabor College (Kan.). The Pioneers will have a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM Friday, and another doubleheader beginning at 12:00 PM on Saturday.
