Pioneers Unable to Contain Angelo State in Midweek Doubleheader

San Angelo, Tex. --- The Pioneers took on the NCAA Division II National Runners-up, the Rams of San Angelo State University, for a nonconference mid-week doubleheader, and suffered a tough sweep. The Pioneers fell short 13-6 in game one, then the Rams secured the 18-7 win in game two.
 
 
GAME ONE
 
Angelo State jumped all over Wayland Baptist in the bottom of the 1^st as they scored five runs on two hits to take a commanding lead early. The Rams struck again in the bottom of the 2^nd for three more runs to extend their lead to 8-0.
 
The Pioneers started to battle back in the top of the 3^rd after Cooper Jauz drove in their first run of the game with an RBI single to make it 8-1. Felix Polanco then made it 8-2 after scoring Delvis Claudio with a fielder's choice. The Rams got both of those runs back in their half of the 3^rd to extend their lead to 10-2.
 
Angelo State added another run in the bottom of the 4^th, but the Pioneers answered back in the top of the 5^th with a Claudio solo shot to left – his 11^th home run of the season – to make it 11-3. The Rams tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the 6^th to take a 13-3 lead over the Pioneers.
 
The Pioneers had a quick rally in the top of the 7^th that started with a Claudio RBI single to make it 13-4. Jauz followed that up with a sacrifice fly to make it 13-5, Rams. Polanco capped off the rally with an RBI single, but the Pioneers ultimately fell short in game one, 13-6.
 
Claudio finished 2 for 3 with a home run, a walk, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Jauz went 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Peyton finished 2 for 3 with a run scored. Polanco went 1 for 4 with two RBIs.
 
 
GAME TWO
 
Wayland Baptist opened the scoring in the top of the first after Polanco scored Claudio with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. The Pioneer lead wouldn't last long as the Rams answered back in their half of the 1^st with a grand slam and an RBI triple to make it 5-1, Angelo State.
 
The Pioneer offense responded immediately in the top of the 2^nd as Christian Toledo drove a two-run triple to center to make it 5-3. Claudio then drove Toledo in with an RBI single to make it 5-4, Angelo State. Samuel Fabian tied the game in the top of the 3^rd with a solo bomb to left center – his 10^th home run this season – to make it 5-5.
 
The Rams wouldn't allow the Pioneers to stay even for long as they tallied three more runs on three hits in the bottom of the 3^rd to take an 8-5 lead. The Rams offense erupted again in the bottom of the 4^th for six more runs on four hits, giving them a 13-5 lead late.
 
Polanco tried his best to give the Pioneers some momentum in the top of the 6^th after he crushed a two-run opposite field home run – his 10^th of the season – to make it 13-7, Rams. Angelo State put the game out of reach in the bottom of the 6^th with four more runs to make it 18-7, which is how the scoring would end.
 
Toledo finished 2 for 3 with a triple, two RBIs, and a run scored. Claudio went 2 for 4 a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Polanco went 1 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs. Riley Watson went 2 for 3 with a run scored.
 
 
UP NEXT
 
The Pioneers will travel to Bethany, Oklahoma for a road Sooner Athletic Conference series against the Eagles of Southwestern Christian University. The three-game series will begin with a doubleheader on Friday, March 14^th with game one set to start at 12:00 PM.