PLAINVIEW, TX: The 19th ranked Texas Wesleyan University Baseball team (30-8, 16-3 SAC) saw its 17-game winning streak come to an end Friday at Wayland Baptist University (25-16, 12-10 SAC). The Pioneers defeated the Rams 10-5 at Wilder Field before high winds and inclement weather forced the postponement of game two of the scheduled doubleheader.
The two teams will now play one seven-inning game at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday with a nine-inning game immediately following.
Texas Wesleyan's 17-game hitting streak matched the second longest streak in school history and was just two games shy of tying the program record of 19 set in 2008. During the streak, the Rams batted .396 as a team while outscoring their opponents 181-80.
On Friday, 30 mph winds swept through Plainview, effecting play at Wilder Field. The teams combined to touch off five home runs on the day, but the Pioneers outhit the Rams 12-9.
Wayland set the tone in the first inning with a three-run homer from Brenden Foust. The Rams got a two-run shot from Aiden Laurini in the third, but WBU put a pair of solo homers on the board to jump ahead 5-2 in the third.
Julio Ibarra got in on the long ball act with a solo shot in the fourth, but things got away from the Rams in the fifth and sixth.
A leadoff single turned into a Wayland Baptist run in the fifth. In the sixth, the Pioneers sent ten men to the plate and scored four runs on four hits a walk, a hit batter, and an error.
The Rams took advantage of a WBU error in the seventh to put up two runs, but the rally fell short at 10-5.
Stephen Yancey (7-3) took the loss after allowing 10 runs, nine earned, in 5.1 innings pitched. WBU's Tanner Solomon (3-1) tossed a complete game and allowed just one earned run on nine hits.
Donnie Lopez led the Rams at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run scored.
Kiki Menendez extended his hitting streak to 17 games, going 2-for-4 at the plate.
Temperatures are forecasted to drop into the 30's in Plainview into Saturday morning, but should reach 50 degrees by game time. However, windy conditions may again persist throughout the day.
Ramblings
- The loss dropped the Rams into a tie for first place in the SAC standings. No. 19 Texas Wesleyan, No. 7 USAO and No. 9 Oklahoma City all stand at 16-3 in league play.
- The Rams lead the all-time series with the Pioneers 16-10, while the fell to 78-34 all-time in SAC play.
- During his 17-game hitting streak,
Kiki Menendez is batting .515 with 10 doubles, 10 home runs and 35 RBI. On the season, Menendez has hit safely in 35 of 38 games played.
- The Rams also put together a 17-game winnings streak during the 2016 season.
- This series features two of the NAIA's top power hitters. WBU's Gregg Veneklasen leads the nation with 17 home runs while
Kiki Menendez is second with 15 home runs.
