Pioneers Clinch First SAC Championship in Program History

Plainview --- The 2025 Wayland Baptist Pioneer Baseball team have officially made history after clinching their first Sooner Athletic Conference Championship in program history with a sweep of Central Christian in Friday's doubleheader. The Pioneers earned a 7-4 win in game one followed by an 8-0 shutout victory in game two.
 
After being selected 5^th in the SAC Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll, the Pioneers proved all of their doubters wrong to make history and win the regular season title.
 
 
GAME ONE
 
Wayland Baptist fell behind early in today's opener after the Tigers scored two runs in the top of the 1^st to claim the early lead.
 
That lead wouldn't even last an inning as the Pioneer offense answered back in a strong way in their half of the 1^st.
 
Samuel Fabian got the Pioneers on the board after dropping down a sacrifice squeeze bunt, which was fielded by the Tigers pitcher and thrown into right field and allowed Cooper Jauz to scurry home and score to make it 2-1. Arcadio Frausto followed next with an RBI single to right to even the score at 2-2. The inning was capped off with Samuel Fabian sprinting home to score after an error on a failed pickoff attempt allowed him to score and make it 3-2, WBU.
 
The Tigers re-took the lead in the top of the 4^th after scoring two more runs to take a 4-3 lead midway through the game.
 
The Pioneers tied the game in the bottom of the 4^th after scratching across a run on a bases-loaded wild pitch that allowed Riley Watson to score and even the score at 4-4.
 
With the game tied and two on in the Pioneers half of the 6^th, Felix Polanco stepped to the plate and promptly smoked a go-ahead two-run single to put the Pioneers ahead 6-4 late. Fabian then stepped in and mimicked Polanco by smashing an RBI double of his own that made it 7-4, WBU.
 
Juan Gil-Franco secured the 7-4 game one win for the Pioneers after striking out the side in the top of the 7^th, which secured a share of the SAC Regular Season Title and sparked the Pioneers to come sprinting out of the dugout for a tremendous celebration.
 
Polanco finished 1 for 4 with two RBIs, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Fabian went 2 for 3 with a double, an RBI, a hit by pitch, and a run scored. Frausto went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
 
Juan Gil-Franco picked up his 10^th win of the season for the Pioneers after throwing 3.1 scoreless inning of relief with no walks and six strikeouts.
 
 
GAME TWO
 
Game two was dominated from start-to-finish by the Pioneers. Fabian got the Pioneer offense rolling early after crushing a three-run homer to left – his 19^th home run on the season – to make it 3-0 after one inning of play.
 
Frausto made it 4-0 Pioneers in the bottom of the 3^rd after smoking another RBI single to right that scored Raphael Beltre Toledo from third.
 
The Pioneers gained all of the momentum in the bottom of the 5^th after notching their second three-run inning of the game, starting with an RBI single from Polanco that made it 5-0. Fabian would then make it 6-0 after driving in Beltre with an RBI double to left. Frausto capped the inning off with another RBI single to right center that made it 7-0, WBU.
 
Delvis Claudio added one more insurance run for the Pioneers in the bottom of the 6^th with an RBI groundout that made it 8-0.
 
Polanco, who also operated as the Pioneers game two starting pitcher, slammed the door on the Tigers to secure the 8-0 win and outright 2025 Regular Season SAC Baseball Championship.
 
Polanco was dealing all night long – throwing a complete game shutout with no walks and five strikeouts. With the win, Polanco now owns a 4-4 record on the season.
 
Fabian led the Pioneers offensively in game two by going 2 for 3 with a home run, a double, four RBIs, and two runs scored. Frausto went 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Polanco went 3 for 3 with an RBI.
 
 
REMARKS FROM HEAD COACH TODD WELDON
 
 
Thoughts on team's composure:
 
"Even though the SAC Championship was at their fingertips before playing their first game today, they continued to do what they have done all year long – they trusted their brothers in front and behind them. They continued to play the game the right way, and they play for their brothers."
 
Thoughts on what made this team so special:
 
"Not only is this the most talented team I have ever coached or been a part of, but they were unselfish and believed the truth that one or two or three individual players didn't have to do it all themselves. This group of young men are a family. They all come from different backgrounds, different languages, and yet when you see them with each other, you know that they love each other."
 
What it means to him to bring the first SAC Title to his Alma Mater:
 
"Wayland Baptist University and this baseball program had a major part in shaping me into the man I am today. I wouldn't be the coach, father, brother, and husband I am today if it want's for the mentors, teachers, and coaches that led me in my time as a player and assistant coach at Wayland. I thank God every day for leading me to Wayland and placing the many amazing people in my life.
 
This SAC Championship is not only a testament to the talent and hard work of this team, but also to the people of Wayland that have come before us. All of the previous players, coaches, and administrators have laid the foundation for what was accomplished today. God is so good!!!
 
I have seen God move not only on the field, but off the field. He has changed the lives of young men in our program this year, and I can see them becoming more like Jesus every day. God wrote this story that led to today and will continue to add to an already great story for these young men. I look forward to seeing what they accomplish next.
 
One of my favorite parts about today was watching the team lead each other in prayer after winning the first game. Us coaches didn't encourage it – the Holy Spirit was stirring in their hearts, and they gave the glory to God today.
 
 
 
UP NEXT
 
The Pioneer will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday, April 19^th when they conclude their three-game set against the Tigers of Central Christian College with a nine-inning game scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM.
 
The Pioneers will celebrate their Seniors with a ceremony that will begin at the conclusion of tomorrow's game.