OKLAHOMA CITY - Weather forced the relocation and delay of the Mid-America Christian University baseball team's double-header against Wayland Baptist University as winter weather continues to mess with the schedules, but the teams were able to play both games at nearby Putnam City High School on their turf field with play concluding under the lights. The games were completely different in how they played out, and yet they were eerily similar in the end results.
Wayland Baptist (10-3, 2-0 SAC) jumped out to early leads in both, and while MACU rallied, the Evangels came up one run short each time, dropping game one 9-8 and game two 2-1.
Wayland Baptist plated single runs in the first and second innings of game one, and the Pioneers added two more in the top of the third inning to push their advantage to 4-0. The Evangels' offense had trouble getting going early, but in the fourth frame, the Evangels caught a break, and they made WBU pay dearly for it.
With a runner at first and two out, WBU's Nick Valenzuela made an error on a grounder hit by Manuel Hazoury, and that play ignited a four run rally. Edgar Martinez followed Hazoury with a two-RBI triple to deep right-center field to trim the MACU deficit to 4-2. Junior Aracena stepped in to follow Martinez, and on a 3-1 count, Aracena launched a game-tying 2-run blast to left field, and suddenly, MACU found themselves back even at 4-4.
WBU plated five runs in the top of the sixth to take command, but the Evangels began to rally again in the bottom half. Luis Sanchez and pinch-hitter Yan Ely Adames drew back-to-back walks to start the frame, and after a fly out from Edgar Martinez allowed Sanchez to move up to third base, Aracena reached base on an error and Sanchez scored to pull MACU to within four. Colin Minor pinch hit two batters later and singled home Adames, and the Evangels were suddenly within three at 9-6.
The top of the seventh went by scoreless, and MACU again put the first two runners on base with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh for Sanchez. He rifled a line drive on one hop off the right field wall, but he was thrown out trying to go for a double, and that proved a key moment in the game. Adames followed with an RBI-double that hit off the very top of the wall in left, but with only one aboard, the score remained 9-8. WBU went to the bullpen for their closer Cesar Paz, and Paz retired the next two batters in order to preserve the 9-8 win for Wayland.
Wayland scored nine runs on 12 hits and three errors, and MACU plated eight runs on seven hits and two errors.
Tanner Solomon (3-0) tossed five innings and gave up five runs - only one of which was earned - on four hits, two walks, and six strikeouts to take the victory. Ben Donnell (1-2) allowed six runs, four earned, on seven hits, four walks, and six strikeouts in the loss, and Paz (3) earned the save in two-thirds of an inning.
Raymond Rodriguez had a pair of hits including a double, Aracena had three RBIs and the homer, and Edgar Martinez had a single and two RBIs.
Arcangel Soto took the ball in game two for Mid-America, and he pitched his best game for the Evangels in his career. Soto was dialed in from the opening pitch. Soto retired the side in order in five of the seven innings of the game, and in the fourth frame, he allowed a leadoff walk, but he also recorded a strie-him-out-throw-him-out double play to end the frame.
For Wayland Baptist, Andrew Manier matched Soto pitch-for-pitch through the first four innings, as MACU had only two baserunners and both were retired on double plays.
Wayland, though got to Soto in the third. The Pioneers strung together a double and three singles to plate two runs in the third frame, and the Pioneers led 2-0 heading to the bottom of the fifth.
Sanchez was hit by a pitch, and he moved up to second on a single from Aracena with nobody out. After a fielder's choice put runners at the corners with one away, Adames chopped an infield single into the hole at second base that scored Sanchez, and a walk to Minor loaded the bases with still only one out. The Pioneers, however, went to the bullpen for Irving Munoz, who notched back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat, which proved to be the last one of the game.
The last 12 men in the game were set down in order, and Wayland took the win 2-1.
Wayland Baptist scored their two runs on four hits - all in the third inning - and MACU plated one run on three hits. Neither team made an error in the game.
Manier (3-1) earned the win, tossing four and one-third innings and giving up one earned run on three hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. Soto (0-2) threw a complete game, and he was charged with two earned runs on four hits, he walked one, and struck out nine. Munoz (1) earned the save, throwing two and two-third innings and striking out five of the eight men he faced.
Aracena, Adames, and Edgar Martinez each had singles for MACU, Sanchez scored a run, and Adames picked up an RBI.
The Evangels are scheduled to hit the road for the first time in 2019 on Tuesday, March 5. The Evangels are slated to go to Hillsboro, Kansas to take on the Blue Jays of Tabor College (13-3) for a double-header at 1 p.m.
