Despite Extreme Winds, Pioneers Secure Win Over SCU in Series Opener

Bethany, Okla. --- On an extremely windy in Bethany, Oklahoma, the Pioneers took down the Eagles of Southwestern Christian University, 7-2, in the opening game of this three-game set. The Pioneers and Eagles were supposed to play a doubleheader this afternoon, but with the extreme wind, they have decided to play a doubleheader tomorrow to wrap-up the series.
 
Wayland Baptist opened the scoring in the top of the 1^st after Felix Polanco knocked an RBI single up the middle to score Delvis Claudio and make it 1-0. Arcadio Frausto would add another run for the Pioneers in the top of the 3^rd with an RBI single to make it 2-0. Polanco would later make it 3-0 Wayland Baptist after an Eagle balk allowed him to walk home.
 
Southwestern Christian answered with two runs in the bottom of the 3^rd to trim their deficit to just one run, but the Pioneers wasted no time getting those runs back as Cooper Jauz slapped an RBI single in the top of the 4^th to make it 4-2. Jauz would later score after another RBI single from Polanco to make it 5-2, WBU.
 
After a few scoreless innings, Riley Watson would deliver the dagger for the Pioneers with a two-run single in the top of the 7^th to extend their lead to 7-2. Juan Gil-Franco slammed the door on the Eagles and secured the 7-2 win for the Pioneers in this series opener.
 
Polanco finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs, a stolen base, and a run scored. Frausto went 2 for 3 with an RBI, a walk, and a run scored. Watson finished 1 for 3 with two RBIs, a stolen base, a walk, and a run scored. Jauz went 1 for 3 with an RBI, a walk, and two runs scored.
 
Tate House operated as the Pioneers starting pitcher this afternoon, and he threw 2.1 innings allowing two runs, four walks, while striking out two. House is now 4-1 on the season. Juan Gil-Franco was the lone Pioneer to enter out of the bullpen, and he was terrific. Gil-Franco went 4.2 scoreless innings with no walks and six strikeouts.
 
The Pioneers will conclude the three-game set against the Eagles with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 15^th. Game one is scheduled to be a seven-inning game that will start at 12:00 PM. Game two will start 30-minutes after the conclusion of game one, and it will be a nine-inning game as long as game one does not go into extra innings. If game one needs extra innings to conclude, game two will be a seven-inning game.