Pioneers Sweep Doubleheader from RV Texas Wesleyan and Extend Win Streak to 5

Plainview --- Wayland Baptist picked up a thrilling sweep of RV Texas Wesleyan on Friday afternoon to extend their winning streak to five games and secure their fourth series win in Sooner Athletic Conference play. The Pioneers secured the 7-5 win in game one, then they followed up with a 5-4 win in game two.
 
 
GAME ONE
 
Texas Wesleyan jumped ahead of the Pioneers instantly after a lead-off home run to begin the game made it 1-0. Delvis Claudio mimicked the Rams first inning by blasting a lead-off home run for the Pioneers in the bottom of the 1^st to make it 1-1 – his 13^th home run on the season. Three batters later, Samuel Fabian put the Pioneers ahead 2-1 with an RBI single that scored Cooper Jauz from third.
 
Jauz tacked on another run for the Pioneers in the bottom of the 2^nd after smacking a two-out RBI single to make it 3-1, WBU.
 
Texas Wesleyan answered back in the top of the 4^th with three runs on two hits to push them in front, 4-3. Brayden Peyton made sure the Pioneers didn't trail for long after slugging a lead-off home run in the bottom of the 4^th to even the score at 4-4 – it was Peyton's 6^th home run on the season.
 
Claudio continued his torrid power stretch in the bottom of the 4^th by smashing a two-run bomb – his 2^nd of the game and 14^th on the season – to push the Pioneers back ahead, 6-4. Fabian later followed with an RBI double to left to give the Pioneers a 7-4 lead late in game one.
 
Texas Wesleyan was able to scratch a run across in the top of the 5^th to make it 7-5, but Juan Gil-Franco was outstanding on the mound down the stretch for the Pioneers and prevented the Rams from scoring another run, securing the 7-5 victory.
 
Claudio led the Pioneers offensively by going 2 for 3 with two home runs, three RBIs, and a hit by pitch. Fabian went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs. Peyton finished 2 for 3 with a home run. Jauz went 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.
 
Tate House made the start for the Pioneers in game one, throwing 3.0 innings, allowing four runs (two earned), four walks, and three strikeouts. Gil-Franco threw 4.0 innings in relief, allowing one run, no walks, and one strikeout. Gil-Franco picked up the win and is now 6-2 on the season.
 
 
GAME TWO
 
Texas Wesleyan scored first in game two with just one run in the top of the 1^st, but the Pioneers were able to tie the game immediately in their half of the 1^st after Felix Polanco smoked a solo shot to make it 1-1 – his 11^th home run on the season.
 
Sinclair Pimentel gave the Pioneers a massive spark of momentum with a first inning, two-run triple to make it 3-1, WBU.
 
The Rams scored another run in the top of the 2^nd to make it 3-2, but a beautiful diving catch by Christian Toledo got the Pioneers out of the jam. The Rams later evened the score at 3-3 with an RBI single in the top of the 3^rd.
 
Pimentel continued to fuel the Pioneer offense by driving in another run with an RBI single in the bottom of the 4^th to make it 4-3, WBU. Texas Wesleyan battled back in the top of the 6^th with one run to even the score up at 4-4.
 
Wayland Baptist was able to capitalize offensively by getting runners on base in the bottom of the 6^th for Watson, who then showed off his speed by beating out an inning-ending double play to allow Axel Guerrero to cross home and give the Pioneers a 5-4 lead late.
 
Toledo took the mound and slammed the door on the Rams to secure the 5-4 win for Wayland Baptist, clinching the sweep of Friday's doubleheader and the fourth SAC series win in five tries this season.
 
Pimentel boosted the Pioneer offense in game two by going 3 for 3 with a triple and three RBIs. Arcadio Frausto finished 2 for 3 with two doubles, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Polanco went 1 for 3 with a home run. Claudio went 2 for 3 with a double.
 
 
 
UP NEXT
 
The Pioneers will conclude this three-game series against RV Texas Wesleyan with a single nine-inning game on Saturday, March 22^nd. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM at Wilder Field.