FORT WORTH - Led by a multitude of strong hitters and close-out pitching, Texas Wesleyan Baseball improved to 12-3 overall and 11-0 at Sycamore Park Wednesday afternoon with a 9-8 victory over Texas College (7-11). It was the Rams' sixth consecutive victory over the neighbors from the east in Tyler, Texas.

While the game was a competitive back-and-forth the entire, perfect-conditions-for-baseball day, it was the pitching execution down the stretch that halted the Steers.

In the top of the eighth, Garrett Moltzan came in to pitch for the Rams - three up, three down - and earned two strikeouts and a routine ground ball to third base. Moltzan was relieved by Jesse Ramirez who still has not given up an earned run and did the same - three up, three down, earning two strikeouts and hustle down the first base line ended a well-contested matchup.

For the sixth time this season, the Rams won a game they were once trailing - including all three meetings with the Steers. Texas College took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second before the Rams found a steady rhythm in the third.

The inning started at the top of the lineup, when Tanner Amaral was hit by a pitch. Despite a failed steal attempt and a strikeout, Texas Wesleyan didn't panic. Jeddediah Fagg was walked and Sheadion Jamanika cranked a double to right field, driving in a run. After Michael Davila was intentionally walked to load the bases - a strategy that proved game-breaking - Joseph Barfield singled to right center to bring in two more scores. 

After a pitching change - another unsuccessful maneuver for the Steers - Craig Mattes reached on a fielding error to up the lead to 6-3, this all after a two-run second frame. A passed ball scored another before the Steers got out of the jam. All runs for the Rams came with at least one out in the respective innings.

Parker Robinson improved his record to 2-0 in 2019 while Ramirez earned his second save of the young season. Texas Wesleyan in total struck out 12, while the Steers only managed four Ks. 

Joseph Barfield was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI while Jamanika, Davila and Brooks Wallace were the same with one RBI each. Fagg was walked twice - now with almost as many walks this season (13) as he has hits (14). The .400-hitting slugger has played and started all 14 games (one of two players to accomplish perfect starting lineup attendance, along with Brayden Bahnsen) and the 13 walks ranks fourth in the nation among the top 800 players classified by on-base percentage. Fagg is ninth in the nation in total runs scored with 17.

The Steers managed to earn 13 hits Wednesday, but left 10 runners on base. 

NUMBER ONE IN ONE KEY STAT
With 12 strikeouts, the Rams now have struck out 129 batters through 15 games. That is No. 1 in the NAIA through February 20, pulling ahead of LSU-Shreveport's 126 through 16 games. Ramirez leads the pitching staff with 26, followed by Parker Robinson's 21 and Cameron Vige's 20. Ramirez ranks in the top 10 in opposing batting average (.070), hits allowed per nine innings (1.93) and in wins (3). His 26 Ks now give him another Top 10 honor, currently tied for ninth.

WHAT'S NEXT
Weather willing, the Rams will head to Dallas Christian Friday before coming back to Sycamore Park for a Saturday doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. As always, stay tuned to Texas Wesleyan social media during baseball and softball season for any weather delays, postponed alerts or cancellation updates.