Pioneers Open Final Homestand of 2025 with Win Over USW

Plainview --- The Pioneers secured a 7-5 win over the University of the Southwest (NM) in a contest that took a full team effort in order to escape. The win kicks-off a four-game homestand to end the 2025 regular season for the Pioneers.
 
The Mustangs jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the 1^st after a solo home run gave them the early momentum. However, the Pioneer offense wasted zero time answering back in their half of the 1^st.
 
Samuel Fabian got Wayland Baptist on the board with an RBI single that scored Delvis Claudio and tied the game up at 1-1. Arcadio Frausto followed with a groundout that scored Felix Polanco from third and put the Pioneers ahead, 2-1. Sinclair Pimentel capped off the inning with an RBI single that scored Fabian to put the Pioneers ahead 3-1 after the 1^st.
 
The Pioneers had a strong 2^nd inning at the plate, and the rally started with a Cooper Jauz RBI single that made it 4-1, WBU. Three batters later and the bases loaded with Pioneers, Frausto ripped a two-run single to right that made it 6-1, WBU.
 
The Mustangs woke up and scratched across two runs in the 4^th and one in the 5^th to trim their deficit to just 6-4.
 
A big insurance run was added for the Pioneers in the bottom of the 5^th after Fabian was plunked with a pitch while the bases were loaded, which allowed one to score and made it 7-4, WBU.
 
The Mustangs got one run back in the top of the 9^th, but Jose Escamilla slammed the door and secured the 7-5 win for the Pioneers.
 
Fabian finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs, a walk, a hit by pitch, and a run scored. Frausto went 2 for 5 with three RBIs. Polanco finished 2 for 3 with a double, two hit by pitches, and two runs scored. Pimentel went 1 for 4 with an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base.
 
Five pitchers combined in the win for the Pioneers, but three threw multiple innings while allowing one or fewer runs. Wellington Vargas started the game for the Pioneers and threw 3.0 innings, allowing one run, one walk, and three strikeouts. Branin Seibert picked up the win in the contest to move to 6-2, and he threw 2.1 innings allowing one run, one walk, and one strikeout. Justin Smith was outstanding in his two scoreless innings in relief, walking none and striking out three.
 
The Pioneers currently own a one-game lead for first place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings ahead of Mid-America Christian, who the Pioneers own the head-to-head tiebreaker over.
 
Three more games sit between the Pioneers and their first Sooner Athletic Conference Championship in program history.
 
The Pioneers will host the Tigers of Central Christian College on Friday, April 18^th and Saturday, April 19^th for the final three-game series of the 2025 regular season. They will play a doubleheader on Friday with Game One set to begin at 4:00 PM. The Pioneers will then celebrate Senior Day after a single, nine-inning game takes place at 1:00 PM.