Oklahoma City – The Pioneers dropped the rubber match and 2024 regular season finale against 22
nd ranked Oklahoma City University 10-7 after a furious comeback in the 9
th fell three runs short. The Pioneers have officially clinched the 5
th seed in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament.
Wayland Baptist opened the scoring in today's game after
Samuel Fabian knocked in
Cooper Jauz on an infield single to give the Pioneers an early 1-0 lead. Oklahoma City answered with two runs in the bottom of the 1
st on an RBI groundout and an RBI single made it 2-1, OCU. The Stars added an RBI double and an RBI single in the bottom of the 2
nd to take a 4-1 lead over the Pioneers.
After a couple of scoreless innings, Oklahoma City struck again in the bottom of the 5
th with two more runs on a sacrifice fly and an RBI infield single to take a 6-1 lead over the Pioneers. The Stars broke the game open in the bottom of the 8
th with four more runs added, three of them coming on a 3-run blast, to take a 10-1 lead over the Pioneers into the final frame.
The Pioneers wouldn't go down without a fight, and after loading the bases with nobody out,
Arcadio Frausto began the Pioneer burst with an RBI single to make it 10-2 with the bases still loaded.
Brayden Peyton followed with a one-out RBI single to make it 10-3, OCU.
Hayden Ingram then hit a two-out, two-run double to score
Delvis Claudio and Frausto, making it a 10-5 ballgame.
Vann Johnson kept the Pioneer rally going with another two-run double to score Ingram and
Riley Watson, making it a 10-7 game. The Pioneer scoring threat would be halted at 10-7 and the Stars would avoid the scare to secure the win.
Polanco went 2 for 4 with two walks, a run scored, and a stolen base. Ingram finished 1 for 4 with two RBIs, a walk, and a run scored. Johnson went 1 for 4 with a double, two RBIs, and a walk. Fabian finished 1 for 4 with an RBI, a walk, and a run scored.
Nathan Baca got the start in the finale for the Pioneers, and he went four innings, allowed six runs, four walks, and struck out three Stars.
Branin Seibert threw three innings in relief for the Pioneers, allowing three runs, two walks, and a strikeout.
Grayson Soukup threw one inning in relief, allowing one run, no walks, and a strikeout.
The Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament seeds include:
1. Mid-America Christian (Okla.)
2. Oklahoma City
3. Science and Arts (Okla.)
4. Texas Wesleyan
5. Wayland Baptist
6. SAGU
7. Southwestern Christian
8. Oklahoma Panhandle State
The Pioneers will travel to Chickasha, Oklahoma to take on the University of Science and Arts (Okla.) in the Opening Round of the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament. First pitch is scheduled for Friday, May 3
rd at 2:30 PM.
