Plainview, Texas – The Pioneers hosted RV University of Science and Arts (Okla.) in a doubleheader on Friday to begin a 3-game Sooner Athletic Conference Series. Wayland Baptist lost game one 4-2, then they were overmatched in a game two loss, 13-5.
The Drovers opened the scoring in game one with a solo home run in the top of the 2
nd, but Wayland Baptist answered in their half of the 2
nd with two runs on a
Gustavo Nava double to make it 2-1 Pioneers. USAO tied the game up at 2 in the top of the 3
rd after a double scored a runner from first. The Drovers retook the lead in the top of the 4
th after another homer to left, this one a solo shot, to make it 3-2. After two scoreless innings, the Drovers scratched across one more run in the top of the 7
th to make it 4-2 heading to the final frame. The Pioneers went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 7
th and fell short in game one, 4-2.
Juan Gil-Franco made the start for Wayland Baptist in game one, and he was solid during his outing. He threw 5 innings, allowing 3 runs, one walk, and 5 strikeouts.
Tyson Potts pitched two innings in relief and allowed one run, no walks, and 3 strikeouts.
Nava finished 1-2 with a double and two RBIs.
Arcadio Frausto and
Cooper Jauz each finished 1-3 with a run scored.
Wayland Baptist opened the top of the 1
st in game two slow as USAO crushed a three-run homer and an RBI single to make it an early 4-0 deficit. In the bottom of the 1
st,
Samuel Fabian crushed his 11
th home run of the season, this one a solo shot to left, to make it 4-1 after one inning of play. USAO scored three more runs in the top of the 2
nd after a two-run single and a bases loaded walk to make it 7-1, Drovers. The Pioneers got a run back in the bottom of the 2
nd after
Delvis Claudio drilled a triple down the right field line to score
Felix Polanco from first and make it 7-2. Claudio then crossed home on a Frausto single to right to make it 7-3 after three innings. USAO hit another solo home run in the top of the 4
th to extend their lead to 8-3 heading to the bottom of the 4
th. The Drovers blew the game open in the top of the 6
th after scoring 5 runs on two RBI singles and a bases-clearing double to make it 13-3. The Pioneers got two more runs in the bottom of the 7
th on a two-run home run from Polanco, his 7
th on the season to make it 13-5. The Pioneers couldn't drive in anymore runs and suffered a tough game two loss, 13-5.
Polanco finished 2-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Fabian finished 1-4 with a solo home run. Claudio went 1-4 with a triple, and RBI, and a run scored.
Branin Seibert got the start for the Pioneers in game two and had a tough outing allowing four runs over an inning of work.
Grayson Soukup threw 3.2 innings in relief allowing 3 runs, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Senior
Connor Leach threw 1.1 scoreless innings out of the pen with no walks and two strikeouts.
The Pioneers will cap off this 3-game series with RV University of Science and Arts (Okla.) with a nine-inning game on Saturday at 1:00 PM. The Pioneers will host a Senior Celebration Ceremony to recognize the 13 seniors in the program at 12:30 PM. Come out and cheer on these seniors in their final Sooner Athletic Conference game at David and Myrt Wilder Field.
