MONTGOMERY, AL: The 21st ranked Texas Wesleyan University baseball team (39-18) suffered a 4-1 loss at the hands of No. 16 Vanguard University (38-15) in their opening game at the NAIA National Championship Opening Round – Faulkner Bracket on Tuesday.
The Game
Tuesday's contest proved to be a terrific pitcher's duel. The Lions struck first with a two-out solo home run from Brock Eissman in the first inning. A sac fly from Jose Rojas in the third made it 2-0 in favor of Vanguard.
That was all the damage done against either Texas Wesleyan's
Zach Aitken or Vanguard's Sean Isaac over the first seven innings.
After allowing two runs on four hits in the first three innings, Aitken did not allow another safety in the next four frames. Meanwhile Isaac allowed only a first-inning single to
Casey Moses and a leadoff single to
Erick Quesada in the seventh.
Rojas added a sac fly in the top of the eighth, and the Rams got on the board in the bottom of the inning.
Blake Seaton drew a one-out walk and scored two batters later on a triple from
James Ziegler.
The Lions added an RBI single from Brandon Sandoval in the ninth, and the Rams were unable to mount a comeback.
Isaac (14-2) allowed just the one run on three hits and five walks while striking out six in a complete game effort. Aitken (8-5) allowed three runs on seven hits in 7.2 innings.
Wade Regas pitched the final 1.1, allowing a run on a hit and two walks.
Both teams stranded seven base-runners. The Rams turned a pair of 5-4-3 double-plays. Sandoval went 3-for-5 at the top of the Lions batting order, while Eissman was 2-for-4.
Up Next
With the loss, the Rams will now take on Texas A&M University-Texarkana in an elimination game at 11:00 am on Wednesday. Vanguard advances to play No. 3 Faulkner who defeated Central Methodist Tuesday evening.
Other Tournament Action
Central Methodist defeated Texas A&M-Texarkana 14-7. Faulkner topped Central Methodist 7-2.
Ramblings
- Ziegler's triple was Texas Wesleyan's 33rd of the season, moving them into a tie for second in the NAIA just one behind Georgia Gwinnett's 34. Texas Wesleyan's previous school record was 23 in 2005.
- A 10-8 loss to Wayland Baptist in the SAC Tournament followed by Tuesday's setback marks the first time the Rams have dropped consecutive contests since losing two in a row at Southwestern Christian March 4-5. That is a stretch of 36 games without losing two in a row. They have not lost three in a row since a 5-game losing skid February 19-27.
- This was Texas Wesleyan's first ever meeting with Vanguard. The Rams have also never faced Texas A&M-Texarkana
- Texas Wesleyan is 81-83 all-time in postseason play and 8-7 in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round.
