Pioneers Split a Pair of Extra-Inning Thrillers Against Tigers

Oklahoma City --- The Pioneers concluded their long weekend in Oklahoma City with a split of Monday's doubleheader against Central Christian in two extra-inning thrillers. Wayland Baptist lost a 6-5 nine-inning heartbreaker in game one, but they responded for a 7-4 eight-inning win in game two.
 
These two games were originally scheduled to be played on April 4^th in McPherson, Kansas, but due to inclement weather, they had to be rescheduled and moved to Oklahoma City.
 
 
GAME ONE
 
Wayland Baptist opened the scoring in the top of the 2^nd after Berkley Bradley smoked a single to left, which then prompted a Tiger error that allowed Amber Poorbaugh to score from first and make it 1-0. Bradley would later come in to after an RBI single from Arianna Zubia made it 2-0.
 
Freshman Makayla Sanchez added another run for the Pioneers in the top of the 4^th after crushing a solo shot to left center to extend their lead t0 3-0.
 
Central Christian was finally able to crack the scoreboard in the bottom of the 5^th after an RBI single made it 3-1, WBU, after five innings of play.
 
The Pioneers answered back in the top of the 7^th after senior Brooklyn Araujo drilled an RBI triple to right center to make it 4-1 late.
 
However, the Tigers wouldn't let the Pioneers seal the win and answered back with three runs in the bottom of the 7^th to send game one into extra innings tied 4-4.
 
The Pioneers took the lead in the top of the 8^th after another Tiger error allowed the Pioneers to take a one-run lead, but the Tigers answered with a run in their half of the 8^th to keep the game tied at 5-5.
 
After the Pioneers were set down 1-2-3 in the top of the 9^th, the Tigers walked it off with an RBI single to clinch the 6-5 win in nine innings.
 
Bradley finished 2 for 4 with two singles, a stolen base, and a run scored. Makayla Sanchez went 1 for 4 with a solo home run. Araujo finished 1 for 4 with an RBI triple.
 
 
GAME TWO
 
After neither team was able to get anything going offensively across the first two innings of play, Wayland Baptist was able to find some rhythm after Araujo ripped an RBI double to left to make it 1-0. Mikayla Carrillo advanced to third on the double, but she would later come around to score on a passed ball that made it 2-0. Makayla Sanchez capped off the strong 3^rd inning for the Pioneers with an RBI single that extended their lead to 3-0.
 
The Tigers were finally able to scratch across their first run of the game in the bottom of the 4^th after an RBI double made it 3-1, WBU.
 
Carrillo got that run back Pioneers immediately in the top of the 5^th after a smashing a bomb to left to make it 4-1.
 
In similar fashion to game one, the Pioneers struggled to close game two after allowing the Tigers to score three runs in the bottom of the 6^th to tie the game at 4-4.
 
After seven innings wasn't enough to determine the outcome of game two, the Pioneers wasted no time wreaking havoc in the top of the 8^th. Abcde Garcia slapped a go-ahead RBI single to left that pushed the Pioneers ahead, 5-4.
 
Later in the inning, Carrillo continued her strong performance by ripping a single to left that was mishandled in the outfield and allowed Christian Moyers to come around and score, making it 6-4. The Pioneers capped off the strong top of the 8^th with another run scored via a Tiger error that made it 7-4.
 
Poorbaugh slammed the door on the Tigers in the bottom of the 8^th and secured the 7-4 eight-inning win in game two for the Pioneers.
 
Carrillo led the Pioneers offensively in game two by going 3 for 5 with a home run and two runs scored. Araujo finished 2 for 5 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Bradley went 2 for 4 with two singles and a run scored. Garcia finished 1 for 4 with an RBI single.
 
 
UP NEXT
 
The Pioneers will return home for their final Sooner Athletic Conference series of the season when they play host to the Lions of Nelson University for a four-game set. They will play a doubleheader on Friday, April 25^th with Game One set to begin at 2:00 PM.