Plainview – The Pioneers got two solid pitching performances this afternoon by
Addy Rich and
Amber Poorbaugh, but they couldn't get that timely hitting and had a few defensive miscues that proved costly after the doubleheader sweep against Mid-America Christian University (Okla.).
Wayland Baptist found themselves in a pitchers dual in game one against the Evangels after both starting pitchers held each team's offense scoreless until the top of the 6
th inning.
Addy Rich had 7 strikeouts before the Evangels finally opened the scoring with a squeeze bunt that forced the Pioneers to try and make a play at the plate but were just late on the tag, making it 1-0 MACU. The Evangels scored three more runs in the 6
th inning to take a 4-0 lead into the final frame.
Abcde Garcia reached on a single to left to begin the bottom of the 7
th, but the Pioneers couldn't bring her in to score and suffered the 4-0 loss in game one.
Rich was dominating the Evangels outside of the 6
th inning. She finished with 7 innings pitched, four runs allowed, two walks, and 8 strikeouts.
Garcia had two of four Pioneer hits in game one including a single and a double.
Jenna Sepeda and
Berkley Bradley each finished game one going 1-3 with a pair of singles.
Game two had a similar start as game one, a pitchers dual with neither team able to score any runs until the 5
th inning. Wayland Baptist began the scoring in game two after Poorbaugh provided her own insurance runs with a sacrifice that scored
Jadyn Fernandez to make it 1-0.
Mikayla Carrillo followed later in the 5
th with a clutch RBI single to right that scored
Arianna Zubia from second and gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead heading to the 6
th.
MACU answered with three runs in the top of the 6
th inning after a couple of Pioneer errors surrendered their lead, 3-2. The Evangels added one more run in the top of the 7
th after a run scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-2.
Jadyn Fernandez led off the final frame with a single to left and advanced to second after an Evangel error, giving the Pioneers a runner in scoring position with one out. The Pioneers lined into an unlucky double play to end the ballgame with MACU taking game two, 4-2.
Amber Poorbaugh gave the Pioneers a great chance to win the game after her seven-inning performance in game two. In those seven innings of work, Poorbaugh allowed one earned run, no walks, and 6 strikeouts.
Carrillo ended game two going 2-3 with two singles and an RBI. Fernandez went a perfect 3-3 in game two with a run scored and a stolen base.
The Pioneers will try and respond tomorrow when they face Mid-America Christian (Okla.) in another doubleheader to wrap up this 4-game home Sooner Athletic Conference series. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 11:00 AM.
