Plainview, Texas – The Pioneers secured the 5-2 victory on Saturday against Southwestern Assemblies of God University to secure the rubber match and win the 3-game weekend series to move to 7-2 in Sooner Athletic Conference play.
After Wayland Baptist starting pitcher
Nathan Baca threw a scoreless first inning, Pioneer leadoff hitter
Felix Polanco smashed a solo homer off the Hutcherson Center in left center field, his 6
th homer on the year, to make it 1-0 early. Baca got in a jam in the top of the 4
th with runners on second and third with one out, but he was able to strike out one and get another to hit a routine grounder to shortstop to escape the jam without allowing a run. The Pioneers scratched across another run in the bottom of the 4
th after
Cooper Jauz hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Frausto from third to make it 2-0. The Lions got on the board in the top of the 5
th with a solo shot to left to make it 2-1.
The Pioneers began the bottom of the 5
th by getting that run back after
Gustavo Nava hit an opposite field solo shot for his third home run in the series to make it 3-1. The Pioneer defense helped Baca out in the top of the 7
th after a leadoff walk was canceled out after
Delvis Claudio snared a liner and fired over to first for the double play. The Lions would bring in one more run in the top of the 8
th after an RBI double made the score 3-2. In the bottom of the 8
th,
Jan Rollon Jr. dropped down a beautiful bunt that was fielded by the pitcher and launched into right field to score two runners and make it 5-2, Pioneers. After giving up a leadoff single,
Grayson Soukup got a flyout and back-to-back strikeouts to end the game 5-2 and secure the series win over the Lions.
Baca's final stat line was an outstanding 7.2 innings, only allowing two runs, 4 hits, 4 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Soukup picked up his first save of the season after throwing 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit, no walks, and two strikeouts.
Polanco finished 1-3 with a home run, two runs scored, and a walk. Nava went 1-3 with a home run, his third home run of the weekend.
The Pioneers will travel to San Angelo, Texas to take on Angelo State University on Tuesday at 3:00 PM. They will continue Sooner Athletic Conference play this weekend with a three game road series against Mid-America Christian University (Okla.) beginning with a doubleheader on Friday.
