PIONEERS DOWN RAMS WITH WALK-OFF HOMER |
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PLAINVIEW, TX: Wayland Baptist University (22-2-1) used a walk-off home run from Brett Shepherd with one out in the ninth to top the Texas Wesleyan University Baseball team (11-8) 11-10 at Wilder Field on Tuesday.
The Rams trailed 3-1 after two innings of the first game of a three-game set at 15th ranked WBU. However, Texas Wesleyan rallied in the middle innings.
In the fourth the Rams got an RBI single from Brandon Frazier, a two-run base hit from Zach Smith, an RBI grounder from Blake Walker, and a bases-loaded balk to take a 6-3 advantage.
Texas Wesleyan poured it on in the fifth inning with an RBI single from Ryan Jacobi and a two-run double from Smith. Wayland Baptist made it 9-7 in the sixth when they took advantage of a Texas Wesleyan error and plated four runs in a rally highlighted by a two-run homer from Brett Cook.
A two-run double from Eddie Allen tied the game at nine in the bottom of the eighth. With runners at the corners and two down in the top of the ninth, Texas Wesleyan executed the rabbit play to take the lead. Jacobi stayed in a rundown between first and second long enough for Jordan Buckley to scamper home from third.
In the bottom of the ninth, Todd Jeffress led of with a single, and, two batters later, Shepherd blasted a line drive over the left field wall.
Hayden Lackey (2-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on two hits in a third of an inning. Corey Martin (1-0) got the win after allowing an unearned run on three hits in 2.2 innings of relief work.
The top third of the Texas Wesleyan order turned in an outstanding day with 10 hits, six RBI, and six runs scored. Frazier went 3-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored. Jacobi, a sophomore from Mansfield, TX, had a career-high four hits, going 4-for-6 with an RBI and three runs scored. Smith, the reining RRAC Player of the Week, went 3-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored. Butch Ballez also ran his current hitting streak to seven games.
Allen finished with four RBI for the Pioneers.
The two teams will complete their three-game series on Wednesday with a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. |
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