Plainview – The Pioneers split a Saturday doubleheader against the Warriors of Sterling College – winning game one by a score of 15-9 but falling short 13-11 in game two after nearly pulling off a miraculous comeback.
GAME ONE
Wayland Baptist got off to a great start in game one – scoring two quick runs on back-to-back RBI singles from
Amber Poorbaugh and
Addy Rich to make it 2-0. The Pioneers scratched across another run in the bottom of the 2
nd after successfully executing a double steal with
Mikenzi Carlo crossing home to make it 3-0.
Berkley Bradley would add another run for the Pioneers in the 2
nd inning with an RBI single that scored
Christian Moyers to make it 4-0, WBU.
The Warriors scored their first two runs of the game in the top of the 3
rd with four hits to make it 4-2. However, the Pioneers answered back resoundingly in their half of the 3
rd beginning with an RBI double from Rich that made it 5-2.
Abcde Garcia then knocked in Rich with an RBI single to increase the Pioneer lead to 6-2. Moyers capped off the strong inning for the Pioneers with an RBI single to extend their lead to 7-2 after three innings of play.
The Warriors responded with three runs over their next two innings to trim their deficit to just 7-5, but the Pioneers would answer back emphatically once again in the bottom of the 5
th. The big inning started with Moyers hitting another RBI single to make it 8-5, Pioneers. The Warriors then committed a costly error with the bases loaded that allowed another Pioneer run to score and make it 9-5.
Makayla Sanchez provided the big hit of the inning when she ripped a two-run double to give the Pioneers an 11-5 lead after five innings.
The Warriors scored three more runs in the top of the 6
th to trim their deficit to just three runs, but another Pioneer response would exterminate any momentum the Warriors had gained.
Mikayla Carrillo put the Pioneers ahead 12-8 with an RBI single that scored Carlo. Bradly then made it 13-8 after another RBI single scored Moyers. Sanchez once again provided the damaging hit for the Pioneers as she ripped another two-run double to make it 15-8.
The Warriors scored one run in the top of the 7
th, but their deficit was too much to overcome as the Pioneers secured the 15-9 win in game one.
Makayla Sanchez went 3 for 5 with two doubles, four RBIs, and a run scored. Moyers went 4 for 4 with two RBIs, a stolen base, and three runs scored. Rich finished 3 for 3 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored. Carrillo went 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI, a walk, and three runs scored.
GAME TWO
Wayland Baptist got off to another strong start offensively in game two – scoring two first inning runs on an
Amber Poorbaugh triple and
Mikenzi Carlo single. The Warriors immediately tied the game up in the top of the 2
nd with a single and a sacrifice fly to make it 2-2.
The Warriors took command of game two over the next four innings as they would scratch across six runs and take an 8-2 lead over the Pioneers. Garcia would get a run back in the bottom of the 6
th for the Pioneers after an RBI single made it 8-3. The Warriors answered for five runs in the top of the 7
th to make it 13-3, which would seemingly end this one until the Pioneers nearly pulled off the unimaginable.
The Pioneers scored eight runs in the bottom of the 7
th, including a combined four RBIs from Carrillo and Garcia, and trailed 13-11. Unfortunately, the deficit was too great for the Pioneers to overcome as they fall short in game two, 13-11.
Garcia finished 3 for 4 with two doubles, three RBIs, and a run scored. Carrillo went 3 for 5 with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Poorbaugh went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
UP NEXT
The Pioneers will open up Sooner Athletic Conference play with a four-game series against the Eagles of Southwestern Christian University. The series will take place in Bethany, Oklahoma, and it will feature doubleheaders on both Friday, February 21
st and Saturday, February 22
nd. First pitch for game one on Friday is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
