FORT WORTH — Texas Wesleyan University (34-7, 19-5 SAC) rallied for a 12-7 victory over Central Christian College of Kansas (19-21, 13-11) SACon Saturday at Sycamore Park.
The series was originally scheduled to be played in McPherson, Kansas, but was moved to Fort Worth due to weather.
The Rams (34-7, 19-5) used a five-run sixth inning to seize control and improve to 19-5 in Sooner Athletic Conference play. Central Christian fell to 19-21 overall and 13-11 in conference.
Texas Wesleyan scored first in the opening inning when Jose Rangel singled, stole second and scored on Jorge Herrera's RBI single for a 1-0 lead.
Central Christian took a 3-1 lead in the second on three unearned runs, including one on a wild pitch, after capitalizing on a Rams error.
The Rams surged ahead in the sixth with five runs. Rangel singled and scored on Brendon Vela's two-run homer. Aidan Vega, pinch-running for Herrera, scored on a throwing error. Jonathan Pena's double and a wild pitch brought in two more runs to put Texas Wesleyan up 6-5.
Vela scored on Herrera's sacrifice fly in the seventh to make it 7-5. The Rams added five insurance runs in the ninth, highlighted by Rangel scoring on a wild pitch, Pena's sacrifice fly and RBI hits from Giuseppe Buttaci, Daniel Hernandez and Idelfonso Garcia. Central Christian scored twice in the bottom of the ninth but could not overcome the deficit.
Jose Casado started for Texas Wesleyan and went 1 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on two hits with one strikeout, one walk and one hit batter. Noah Huerta earned the win in relief, throwing 3 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and one earned run on three hits.
Ty Sansom faced two batters without recording an out, allowing two hits and a walk. Rey Rivera Jr. pitched two scoreless innings with one strikeout. Luka Zakman threw a perfect inning with eight strikes on eight pitches. Michael Stewart closed it out, allowing two earned runs on one hit with two strikeouts, two walks and a wild pitch.
Vela finished with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored. Rangel scored three times and had two hits. Herrera had two hits and two RBIs. Pena drove in two runs with a double and scored once.
The Rams will close out the regular season against Wayland Baptist University, with a doubleheader slated for 1 p.m. Friday and noon start on Saturday for one game.
