FORT WORTH — Texas Wesleyan University will begin its 2025 postseason journey on the road, taking on top-seeded Wayland Baptist University in the opening round of the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Baseball Tournament.
The Rams enter as the No. 8 seed after finishing the regular season 26-22 overall and 10-16 in SAC play. Meanwhile, Wayland Baptist (34-14, 22-5 SAC) claimed its first SAC regular-season title and is receiving votes in the latest NAIA coaches poll.
The two teams met last month in Plainview, where the Pioneers swept the Rams in a tightly contested series. Texas Wesleyan dropped back-to-back heartbreakers, 7-5 and 5-4, before falling 13-3 in the finale despite early leads in each game.
Rams slugger Rody Garcia homered twice in the series, while Gabriel Supelveda and Tahir Meulens each delivered key RBIs. However, defensive miscues and late-inning rallies by Wayland Baptist proved costly. Felix Polanco starred for the Pioneers, contributing both at the plate and on the mound in the series finale.
The rivalry between Texas Wesleyan and Wayland Baptist dates back to 2014. Though the Rams hold a 22-13 edge in the all-time series, the Pioneers have claimed the last three meetings and five of the last eight overall. The series has been defined by offensive fireworks and dramatic finishes, with the teams combining for 274 runs across 35 games.
The best-of-three series begins Friday at Wilder Field, with games scheduled for 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. If necessary, Game 3 will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday.
