Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two

FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University baseball team (31-21, 20-10 RRAC) split a doubleheader with fifth ranked LSU-Shreveport (38-13, 26-4) on Saturday. The split gave the Rams a 2-1 series win. After LSUS took game one 11-3, the Rams took game two 4-2.

 

Texas Wesleyan closed out the season with consecutive conference series wins over then tenth ranked Northwood University and fifth ranked LSUS. In the LSUS series, the Pilots outscored the Rams 14-12, but the Rams took Friday’s game one 5-1 and the finale 4-2.

 

In game one on Saturday, the Rams spotted LSUS an early lead as the Pilots batted around in the first inning and each of their first six hitters scored. The Pilots got a leadoff single from Manny Estrada before Chase Wentz doubled on a ball that was just fair over the third base bag. The next batter grounded to third and the Rams had an easy out at the plate, but an errant throw allowed Estrada to score the game’s first run. An RBI single from Justin Broadnax, a two run double from Michael Diffie, and a two run single from Shawn Moy completed the six-run rally.

 

The Rams took advantage of two LSUS errors in the bottom of the first and scored two runs with singles from Christian Soberanes and Eric Epperson.

 

An RBI double from Estrada in the third inning, an RBI double from Broadnax in the fourth, and a solo homer from Estrada in the fifth brought the score to 9-2.

 

The Rams tacked on a sac fly from Justin Padron in the sixth, but LSUS got that run back with a leadoff home run from Kyle Pearson in the seventh. A TWU error pushed the Shreveport advantage to 11-3.

 

Jared Mortenson (7-1) picked up the win after tossing five innings and allowing three runs, one earned, on seven hits. Colton Farrar (3-8) took the loss after allowing eight runs, five earned, on nine hits in three innings pitched.

 

Soberanes went 3-for-4 with a triple and a run scored in the loss.

 

In game two, Texas Wesleyan’s Drew Cavender and LSU-Shreveport’s Logan Norris kept the game scoreless through three innings.

 

In the top of the fourth, Wentz led off and was hit by a pitch. He moved to third on a single from Kevin Smith and scored on a sac fly from Broadnax. Cavender got out of the inning when Vincent Winter made a nice running catch in left field. Smith had already rounded second and was doubled off easily.

 

In the bottom of the fourth, Padron drew a two-out walk and Winter delivered a double down the right field line. It appeared that the Rams might tie the game, but Padron slipped rounding second and was held at third. Norris escaped with no damage done, when third baseman Shawn Moy made a terrific play on a ground ball down the line.

 

The Rams put two on with no outs the fifth, but a line shot to center from Epperson and a deep fly to left from Jason Holmes were both tracked down for loud outs, and Norris ended the threat with a strikeout.

 

With two on and one out in the sixth, Cavender was lifted in favor of Nolan Barbee. Barbee worked out of the inning quickly with a ground ball and a strikeout.

 

LSUS head coach Rocke Musgraves went to the bull pen after Norris issued a leadoff walk to Padron in the sixth. A balk sent Padron to second, and he advanced to third on a pinch-hit single from Justin Snider. Taylor Jockers then knotted the game with an RBI single, and Soberanes delivered a three-run homer down the left field line that put the Rams on top 4-1.

 

Michael Diffie led off the seventh with a double down the left field line and later scored on a single from Moy.

 

In the ninth, Kyle Pearson reached on a leadoff error, but Patrick Stanley retired the next three hitters in order.

 

Barbee (7-2) earned the win after allowing a run on three hits in 1.2 innings of relief work. Stanley worked 1.1 innings and struck out three to earn his thirteenth save of the season. Cavender allowed one run on five hits while striking out four in 5.1 and received no decision.

 

Cody Boutte (5-2) took the loss after allowing the three-run homer to Soberanes. Norris allowed one run on six hits in five innings pitched.

 

Soberanes was a perfect 4-for-4 in the night cap, making him 7-for-8 at the plate on the day.

 

The Rams will return to action next weekend in the RRAC Tournament which will be hosted by LSU-Shreveport.