Fort Worth – A 12-inning nail biter turned into a gut-wrenching defeat for the Pioneers as they fell 3-2 in the final game of this 3-game road Sooner Athletic Conference series at Texas Wesleyan University.
After two scoreless innings to begin the game, Wayland Baptist fell behind 2-0 in the bottom of the 3
rd after Texas Wesleyan got an RBI single and a sacrifice fly. The Pioneers got their response in the top of the 6
th when
Vann Johnson hit a leadoff double down the left field line and later scored on a
Gustavo Nava single to make it 2-1.
Delvis Claudio tied the game at 2 with a single to left that scored Nava from second.
In the top of the 9
th, the Pioneers got the go ahead run on second with one out, but the threat was stalled after a fielder's choice and a strikeout kept the score tied at 2. Claudio was hit by a pitch in the top of the 10
th to give the Pioneers a bases loaded situation with two outs, but a fly out to right field ended the inning and kept the score even at 2. Texas Wesleyan got the leadoff man into scoring position to begin the bottom of the 12
th, and a single to center field scored the game-winning run from second. The heartbreaking loss for the Pioneers extends their tough skid to eleven.
Nathan Baca got the start for the Pioneers in this marathon of a game, and he was great over his 8 innings of work. Baca only allowed two runs, 5 hits, one walk, and 3 strikeouts over 8 innings while taking the no-decision.
Grayson Soukup was solid in relief, going 3.1 innings allowing one run, two hits, one walk, and one strikeout.
Nava finished 1-5 with an RBI, a walk, and a run scored. Johnson went 1-5 with a double and a run scored. Claudio went 1-4 with an RBI and a hit by pitch.
The Pioneers will host the University of the Southwest (NM) on Tuesday in a midweek non-conference matchup. This will be the final home game of the season for the Pioneers, and first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM.
