OKLAHOMA CITY, OK: The Texas Wesleyan University baseball team (20-28) suffered a 6-1 loss in an elimination game against Southwestern Christian University (24-23) at the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament on Saturday.
The game marked the 208th career game played for senior outfielder
Jake Howeth, tying Texas Wesleyan's all-time record held by Travis Clifford (2003-06). Howeth finishes as a career .347 hitter with 18 home runs and 127 RBI. He also racked up 48 doubles, 166 runs scored, and 54 stolen bases in an outstanding career.
On Saturday, the Eagles jumped ahead with a two-run single from Haskell Browning in the bottom of the first inning.
Dusteyn Suttle doubled and scored on a wild pitch and an Eagle throwing error in the fourth, but that would prove to be the only Texas Wesleyan run of the day.
Browning knocked in another run in the fifth, and the Eagles batted around in the sixth, scoring three runs on three hits, two walks and an error.
Kyle Vail (9-4) earned the win, tossing all nine innings and allowing just an unearned run on four hits while striking out eight.
Mitch McLeod (5-7) took the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out six to raise his season total to a team-high 81.
Colton Clanton fired one scoreless inning of relief.
Suttle was 2-for-3 with a run scored in the loss.
The loss ends the Rams season at 20-28. This marked the program's 11th consecutive season with at least 20 wins under the direction of head coach
Mike Jeffcoat.
Ramblings
- McLeod allowed hitters a paltry average of .197 this season. He finishes his career with 11 wins, an ERA of 3.10 and 166 strikeouts in two seasons.
- Howeth led the team in batting average at .358 this season although
Dylan Measells hit .414 in 58 at bats. Howeth also led the team with 18 multi-hit games, 8 multi-RBI games and a team-best 12-game hitting streak.
- The Rams are now 6-1 all-time vs. Southwestern Christian and 1-4 in SAC Tournament play.
