Plainview, Texas – The Pioneers found themselves back in the win column on Friday afternoon after sweeping the Friday doubleheader against Central Christian College (Kan.) after a 14-4 5-inning run rule in game one, and a 4-3 walk off victory in game two to move to 12-8 in Sooner Athletic Conference play.
Wayland Baptist fell behind 3-0 after the first inning of game one, but the Pioneers weren't rattled the least bit as they answered immediately with 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the 1
st. It started with
Reagan Davis smashing a single to left that got under the left fielders glove and went to the wall, allowing Davis to turn on the speed and come all the way around to score and make it 3-1.
Mikayla Carrillo followed with a hard-hit double to get a Pioneer runner in scoring position with nobody out. Wayland Baptist then got back-to-back triples by
Arianna Zubia and
Berkley Bradley to score two runs to make it 3-3.
After the Tigers went down 1-2-3 in the top of the 2
nd, the Pioneers continued their game one onslaught by scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the 2
nd to make it 7-3. The Pioneers got runs on a Tiger error, a Carrillo sacrifice fly to left, and another Zubia triple that made it 6-3 with two outs. Bradley then reached on another Tiger error that scored Zubia from third to make it 7-3 after two innings.
Central Christian got a run back in the top of the 3
rd, but the Pioneers responded in their half of the 3
rd with two more runs thanks to a
Madison Martinez RBI double to left, and a Davis RBI single to center to make it 9-4.
In the bottom of the 4
th,
Jenna Sepeda got the Pioneer offense started with a single to center. After
Jadyn Fernandez and
Addy Rich walked to load the bases up, Davis stepped to the box and reached on another Tiger error that scored two runs to make it 11-4. Carrillo then followed that up by reaching on yet another Tiger error that allowed two more runs to score and make it 13-4. Zubia followed with a walk to bring up Bradley, who reached base after the third Tiger error on the inning, this time scoring one run to make it 14-4.
Rich pitched a 1-2-3 top of the 5
th to secure the 14-4 run-rule win in game one for the Pioneers. Rich went all five innings in game one, allowing 4 runs total and only two earned runs, 7 hits, one walk, and no strikeouts. The solid outing by Rich mixed with a great offensive output by the Pioneers secured Rich her 7
th win on the season.
Davis finished game one going 2-4 with 3 RBIs and two runs scored. Carrillo went 1-3 with 3 RBIs, two runs scored, and a sacrifice fly. Bradley went 1-4 with 3 RBIs and a triple. Zubia went 2-2 with two triples, two RBIs, two runs scored, and two walks. Martinez finished 1-3 with an RBI, a run scored, and a walk.
Clarissa Rejino got the start in game two for the Pioneers, and she began her afternoon by tossing three scoreless innings. Wayland Baptist got their first scoring threat in game two in the bottom of the 3
rd after Fernandez reached on an infield single and advanced to third after Martinez reached on a Tiger error to put runners at second and third with no outs. Unfortunately, the Pioneers weren't able to capitalize on the opportunity after an unfortunate double play and a pop up ended the threat.
Central Christian opened the game two scoring in the top of the 4
th after a two-run double put them up 2-0. The Pioneers were able to create another scoring threat in the bottom of the 5
th after a leadoff double by
Abcde Garcia put a runner in scoring position with no outs. After a groundout got Garcia to third, Fernandez laid down a beautiful squeeze bunt and beat it out for an infield single that scored Garcia to make it 2-1. Fernandez then showed off the wheels as she stole second and third, and then coming in to score on a Tiger wild pitch to tie the game at 2.
After a scoreless 6
th for both teams, the Tigers scored a go-ahead run in the top of the 7
th after an RBI single to right gave them a 3-2 lead with Pioneers having one more opportunity to win the game.
Wayland Baptist opened the final frame with a leadoff single by
Jenna Sepeda followed by a Fernandez dropped down another great bunt for an infield single to put the winning run on base with nobody out. Martinez followed up with a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third with just one out. Rich then entered game two as a pinch hitter, and after working a tough at-bat, she smashed a walk-off double to left center field to score both Pioneer runners and win game two, 4-3. After the double scored the winning run, the Pioneers sprinted out of the dugout and swarmed Rich with excitement as they continue their outstanding stretch of play.
Rejino was outstanding in her second outing of the weekend. She followed up a tough loss yesterday by pitching 7 solid innings, allowing two earned runs, only one walk, and 5 strikeouts. Rejino only had to throw 88 pitches to cap off her complete game performance.
Fernandez finished game two by going 2-3 with an RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. Garcia finished 1-3 with a clutch double and a run scored. Sepeda finished 1-3 with a single and run scored. Rich went 1-1 with a double, two runs scored, and a walk off win.
Wayland Baptist will prepare this week for a tough Sooner Athletic Conference 4-game road series at 5
th ranked Oklahoma City University. The two teams will face off in a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday, and the first pitch for game one on Friday is scheduled for 5:00 PM.
