Plainview – The Pioneers split their 2024 regular season finale against Southwestern Christian and advance to the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament in Oklahoma City. Southwestern Christian secured the victory in game one 7-3, but Wayland Baptist bounced back in game two for the 3-2 win in the final home game of the season.
After a scoreless first inning to open game one, Southwestern Christian opened the scoring in the 2
nd with a runner scoring on a wild pitch to make it 1-0. The Eagles kept the Pioneers quiet into the 4
th, then SCU added two more runs on an RBI single and an RBI triple to make it 3-0. The Eagles scratched across two more runs in the 5
th, but the Pioneer bats came alive in the bottom of the 5
th.
Jenna Sepeda hit a lead off single to center that got all the way to the wall after the Eagles center fielder misplayed it, allowing Sepeda to advance to third.
Madison Martinez followed with a triple to left that scored Sepeda to make it a 5-1 game.
Aaleah Rodriguez drove in Martinez from third on a sacrifice fly to make it 5-2. Southwestern Christian would get both of those runs back in the top of the 6
th after a two-run double made it 7-2. Regan Davis smacked an RBI double to left, her fourth hit of the game, to trim the deficit for the Pioneers to 7-3, but they were unable to bring in anymore runs and fell 7-3 in game one.
Davis finished game one a perfect 4 for 4 with two doubles and an RBI. Martinez went 1 for 3 with a triple, an RBI, and a run scored.
Clarissa Rejino made the start for Wayland Baptist in game one, and she pitched 5.2 innings, allowed seven runs, four walks, and three strikeouts.
Amber Poorbaugh threw 1.1 scoreless innings in relief without allowing a hit while walking one.
Two scoreless innings began game two, but Southwestern Christian would once again open the scoring after two runs crossed home on a Pioneer error to make it 2-0 early. Wayland Baptist cut their deficit in half in the 3
rd after Davis singled to right scoring
Abcde Garcia from third to make it 2-1, Eagles.
The Pioneers gained some huge momentum in the bottom of the 4
th when
Mikayla Carrillo led the inning off with a triple and later scored on a Garcia squeeze bunt to tie the game at 2. Davis would follow later in the inning with a single to left that scored Garcia to give the Pioneers their first lead of the afternoon, 3-2.
Wayland Baptist game two starter,
Addy Rich, would only allow one hit the rest of the afternoon, a lead off single in the top of the 7
th. The Eagles got the tying run to third after two groundouts, but Rich got the final batter to strike out looking and sealed the win for Wayland Baptist in game two, 3-2.
Rich was outstanding as the game two starter this afternoon for the Pioneers. She threw seven innings, allowed no earned runs, walked one, and struck out three Eagle batters. Rich finished the 2024 regular season with a 2.85 ERA over 137.2 innings pitched.
Davis picked up where she continued her solid day by going 2 for 3 with two RBIs in game two. Garcia went 1 for 2 with an RBI, two runs scored, and a hit by pitch. Carrillo finished 1 for 3 with a triple and a run scored.
Wayland Baptist will advance to the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament in their inaugural season as members of the Sooner Athletic Conference.
