GRAND PRAIRIE, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University baseball team (19-24, 11-9 SAC) split a doubleheader to take a three-game Sooner Athletic Conference series from Southwestern Christian University (20-20, 9-12 SAC) two games to one. The Eagles took game one on Saturday 4-3, before the Rams came back with a 7-1 game-two victory.
Between games the Rams honored their seven seniors.
RJ Burns,
Quavian Lawson,
Rod Lewis,
Jake Howeth,
Tyler Kamtz,
Jose Martinez, and
Mitch McLeod have all made outstanding contributions during their tenure with the Rams.
In game one a Texas Wesleyan error extended the second inning and allowed the Eagles to plate a pair of runs. The Rams loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning, but Kyle Vail recorded a pair of strikeouts to end the threat.
In the third, SCU's Logan Palmer led off with a single and scored on another TWU miscue. In the bottom of the inning, the Rams loaded the bases again, this time with nobody out.
Quavian Lawson scored on a wild pitch, but again Vail limited the damage and SCU continued to lead 3-1.
A leadoff walk to
Garrett Crook in the fourth turned into a run on a single from
Jake Howeth. Howeth stole second and scored the tying run on an SCU error.
With one out in the fifth, Michael Walker ripped a double to break the tie.
Ricky Hull and
Jonathan Morin came out of the Rams bullpen to toss the final 2.2 innings without allowing a run, but Vail finished off a complete game effort for the Eagles.
Vail (7-4) allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits and three walks while striking out nine.
Pasqual Mendoza (2-2) allowed four runs, two earned on seven hits and a walk while striking out one in 4.1 innings.
Howeth collected two of Texas Wesleyan's six hits, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored at the plate.
After stranding nine base runners in game one, the Rams got some timely hits in game two.
The Eagles scored first with a double from Michael Lowe and an RBI single from Haskell Browning in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning, the Rams put runners at second and third with one out after a sac bunt from
Hayden Muns.
Dylan Measells came through with a single to right to put the Rams on top.
In the third inning it was Measells coming through in the clutch again. This time with two outs Measells doubled to bring Howeth home. After Martinez drew a walk, Kamtz ripped a double down the right field line to score two more runs and push the advantage to 5-1.
An SCU error extended the fifth inning, and the Rams capped the scoring with a sac fly from
Ryan Mendez and an RBI single from
Garrett Crook.
Colton Clanton (2-1) earned the win after tossing four innings and allowing a run on four hits while striking out four.
Jonathan Morin and
Connor Zamora finished the game off with three scoreless innings of relief work.
Jesus Ambriz (6-3) took the loss after surrendering seven runs, five earned, on 10 hits in 4.2 innings pitched.
Measells went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, three RBI, and two runs scored. Howeth and Kamtz each had a pair of hits as well.
The Rams will return to action Friday and Saturday with a three game series at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, TX. Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. start.
Ramblings
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Jake Howeth made his 200th career start in game two. He has played in 203 games. With four regular season games remaining he is just five shy of matching Travis Clifford's school record 208 games played.
- The Rams are now 5-1 all-time vs. Southwestern Christian, 26-21 in SAC play and 8-4 vs. Wayland Baptist.
