Pioneers Take Game 1 against Eagles, Unable to Overcome Early Deficit in Game 2

PLAINVIEW --- The Wayland Baptist Pioneers split a Thursday doubleheader against Southwestern Christian, taking game one 6-4 before dropping the nightcap 9-4 at Wilder Field.
 
Game 1: Pioneers Hold Off Late Push for 6-4 Victory

Wayland Baptist (27-14) came out swinging in the opener, using early offense and timely hitting to secure a 6-4 win over Southwestern Christian.

The Pioneers wasted no time setting the tone, plating two runs in the first inning behind RBI singles from Sinclair Pimentel and Arcadio Martinez. They added two more in the third, highlighted by an RBI double from Adonis Bernal and aggressive baserunning that extended the lead to 4-0.

Southwestern Christian responded in the fourth and fifth innings to tie the game at 4-4, but Wayland answered immediately. Bernal delivered the biggest swing of the day in the fifth inning, launching a go-ahead solo home run to left field. Martinez followed with an RBI single to give the Pioneers a 6-4 advantage they would not relinquish.

On the mound, Tyler Thompson (3-0) earned the win in relief, stabilizing the middle innings. Garrett Moseley closed the door with two scoreless frames, allowing no hits while striking out two to secure the victory.

Bernal led the offensive effort, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, while Martinez added two hits and two RBIs of his own as Wayland tallied eight hits in the win.
 
Game 2: Early Deficit Too Much to Overcome in 9-4 Loss

In the second game, Southwestern Christian flipped the script, using a big second inning to pull away and earn a 9-4 win over the Pioneers.

After a quiet first inning, Southwestern Christian erupted for five runs in the second, capped by a grand slam from Braden Browning that put Wayland in an early hole. The visitors added two more runs in the fourth to stretch the lead to 7-3.

Wayland showed fight in the second inning, scoring three runs behind an RBI from Arcadio Martinez and a two-run homer by Rafaeleduardo Garcia to cut the deficit to 5-3. The Pioneers added another run in the fourth but were unable to keep pace as Southwestern Christian continued to apply pressure late.

Despite outhitting Southwestern Christian 6-5, Wayland was hurt by 11 walks issued by its pitching staff and struggled to contain key moments offensively.
 
Up Next

The Pioneers will conclude their final SAC home series of the regular season on Friday, April 10^th against Southwestern Christian with a nine-inning game at 1:00 PM. After the game, the Pioneers will be celebrating Senior Day by holding a ceremony to honor their graduating senior and thanking them for their contributions to the program.