Pioneers Sweep Mustangs Behind Strong Pitching and Defense

HOBBS, NM. --- Wayland Baptist completed a dominant Tuesday afternoon at Baker Field, sweeping University of the Southwest (NM) in a doubleheader on February 17^th with a pair of 4-1 and 4-2 victories. The Pioneers improved to 8-2 on the season with a balanced combination of timely hitting, aggressive base running, and strong performances in the circle.
 
GAME ONE: Wayland Baptist 4, Southwest 1

Wayland set the tone in the opener behind a complete-game effort from Kynleigh Kirby and steady offensive production late in the contest.

After three scoreless innings, the Pioneers broke through in the fourth. Brooke McLaurin doubled to left field and later scored on a Berkley Bradley sacrifice fly to give Wayland a 1-0 advantage.

The Pioneers continued to apply pressure in the fifth, capitalizing on a Southwest error as Reagan Davis-Pena singled and Kendra Garcez came around to score for a 2-0 lead.

Wayland added insurance in the sixth when Mikenzi Carlo drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, and again in the seventh when Yaneli Jaramillo delivered an RBI single to plate Colette Kelley and extend the lead to 4-1.

Kirby was outstanding in the circle, tossing all seven innings while allowing just two hits and one unearned run, striking out four and walking one in a 100-pitch performance. The Pioneer defense was flawless, committing no errors behind her.

Bradley led the offense with two hits and an RBI, while McLaurin added a double and scored. Wayland finished with six hits and drew five walks, forcing Southwest to work throughout the afternoon.
 

GAME TWO: Wayland Baptist 4, Southwest 2

The Pioneers carried their momentum into game two, jumping on the scoreboard early and never relinquishing control.

In the second inning, Bradley singled and later scored on an RBI single from Carlo to put Wayland up 1-0.

An inning later, Kirby launched a solo home run to extend the lead to 2-0.

Wayland broke the game open in the fourth. Kailee Sanchez doubled to left field, and Carlo drove in a run with a sacrifice fly before Davis-Pena added an RBI single to stretch the lead to 4-0.

In the circle, Logan Schultz earned the win, throwing 6.1 strong innings while allowing two runs on four hits and striking out three.

Southwest made things interesting in the seventh with a two-run homer, but Brooklyn Ray entered in relief and secured the final outs to seal the 4-2 victory.

Offensively, Wayland pounded out eight hits in game two. Mikayla Carrillo collected two doubles, Kirby added the home run, and Carlo finished with two RBIs. The Pioneers once again played clean defense, committing no errors.
 

Up Next

The Pioneers will be off this weekend before returning to the diamond on Friday, February 27^th, when they open Sooner Athletic Conference play with a four-game series against Central Christian. The two teams will open the series with a doubleheader on Friday with game one beginning at 2:00 PM.