Pioneers Fall to Drovers in Rain Shortened SAC Baseball Championship Game

Chickasha, Okla. --- Wayland Baptist fell short of capturing their first Sooner Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament Championship in program history after suffering an 11-1 loss in a rain-shortened Championship game.
 
 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
 
Wayland Baptist was able to jump out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the 1^st after Samuel Fabian drilled an RBI single to left that scored Delvis Claudio from third.
 
The Pioneer lead didn't last long as the Drovers answered back with four runs in their half of the 1^st with the big blow being a three-run home run to jump ahead 4-1. The Drovers added another run in the bottom of the 2^nd with a sacrifice fly that made it 5-1, USAO.
 
The 4^th and 5^th innings were devastating for the Pioneers as the Drovers combined for 6 runs including a grand slam to take command of this Championship Game, 11-1.
 
In the top of the 6^th inning, the rain began to downpour on Chickasha, Oklahoma and forced the umpires to call this one before another run could be scored, giving the Pioneers an 11-1 loss in the 2025 SAC Baseball Championship Game.
 
Fabian finished 1 for 2 with an RBI and a hit by pitch. Pimentel went 1 for 2 with a single. Claudio finished 1 for 3 with a run scored. Felix Polanco went 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.
 
For more information about the 2025 Sooner Athletic Conference Baseball Championships, please visit: https://soonerathletic.org/tournaments/?id=823


THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH TODD WELDON
 
His thoughts on how he thought the team performed throughout the 2025 SAC Baseball Championships:
 
"I am super proud of how this team competed this weekend. I had a man approach me after we won both games yesterday who said that it was one of the grittiest performances that he has ever seen out of team in his time around sports. He said he had coached football for several years, and he was super impressed with how our team competed and can tell of the high character of the group.
 
I responded that they are a very special team, and it has been a blessing to watch them come together. They are winning in the most important thing in life. It's tough to leave Chickasha with the Conference Tournament game unfinished, especially with the momentum we had when the rain came. The most important thing for us is that we know special things are going to continue to happen for the remainder of the season."
 
His thoughts on how his pitching staff battled throughout the tournament with all games being nine-innings:
 
"We had a lot of our pitching staff step up in some big ways and show us what they can do to help us win in a tournament format."
 
What do you want the team to work on and fine tune as they head into the most important stretch of the season?
 
"We just want them to enjoy the work that will be needed to prepare to win the rest of the season. They know what's needed to prepare to win, and they will do just that as they practice and play the game for their brothers."
 

UP NEXT
 
Despite the loss in the SAC Baseball Championship Game, the Pioneers have already reserved their spot in the 2025 NAIA Baseball National Championships. The Opening Round games will be played from Monday, May 12^th through Thursday, May 15^th.
 
The 2025 NAIA Baseball World Series will be Friday, May 23^rd through Sunday, May 31^st in Lewiston, Idaho on the campus of Lewis-Clark State College.