Box Score

FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University baseball team (23-12, 14-5 RRAC) opened a three-game Red River Athletic Conference series against Wiley College (15-11, 10-9) with a 6-3 win at LaGrave Field on Friday.

 

The Wildcats turned a leadoff single from Rosnay Liendo into a run in the first inning. In the bottom of the frame, the Rams put runners at first and second with one out and Justin Snider delivered an RBI hit-and-run single to right. Two batters later, Eric Epperson blistered a two-run single to center that gave the Rams a 3-1 advantage.

 

Jason Holmes made it 4-1 when he led off the second inning with a solo homer to left field. By the third inning, Texas Wesleyan starter Derek Vaughn was hitting his stride as he struck out the side.

 

Rafael Sanchez led off the fourth with a soft single into right-center and Eduardo Fernandez followed with a two-run homer that cut the score to 4-3. That was the lone blemish for Vaughn who tossed three more scoreless innings, getting his team to the eighth inning with the lead.

 

Nolan Barbee took care of the eighth inning for the Rams. With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Matt Taylor gave the Rams some breathing room with a pinch-hit two-run homer off the left field foul pole.

 

Patrick Stanley came on after the first batter in the ninth and struck out the side to earn his eighth save of the season. Vaughn (4-2) went seven innings, allowing three runs on ten hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.

 

Holmes went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and a home run. Epperson added two hits in four trips to the plate for the Rams.

 

The Rams and Wildcats will complete their three-game series with a doubleheader at Sycamore Park on Saturday. Game one is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. start.