PLAINVIEW, Texas — Southwestern Christian showed resilience across a three-game stretch against Wayland Baptist, bouncing back from an opening loss to claim two wins and secure the series.
The Eagles moved to 22-24 overall after taking two of three from the Pioneers in a competitive road set.
Game 1: Late Push Falls Short in 6-4 Loss
SCU rallied midway through the opener but couldn't overcome an early deficit, falling 6-4.
Wayland Baptist struck early with two runs in the first and added two more in the third to build a 4-0 lead. The Eagles responded in the fourth, capitalizing on patience at the plate and a defensive miscue to cut the deficit in half.
In the fifth, SCU tied the game behind clutch extra-base hits from Royce Florenzano and Dario Paredes, making it 4-4.
However, a solo home run and an unearned run in the bottom half gave Wayland Baptist the lead for good. Florenzano led the Eagles with two hits and an RBI, while Paredes added a double and a run driven in.
Game 2: Offensive Explosion Leads to 9-4 Win
The Eagles bounced back in a big way in game two, using a dominant second inning to power a 9-4 victory.
SCU plated five runs in the second inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Braden Browning that broke the game open early. The Eagles continued to apply pressure with disciplined at-bats, drawing 11 walks in the contest.
Browning finished with four RBIs, while Dominic Ornelas drove in three runs without recording a hit.
On the mound, Jacob Hogan earned the win in relief, and the pitching staff combined to limit Wayland Baptist to four runs while stranding key runners late.
Game 3: Late-Inning Heroics Seal Series Win
In the rubber match, SCU showcased its pitching depth and timely hitting to secure a 4-2 win.
After falling behind 2-0 in the fourth inning, the Eagles chipped away, scoring once in the fifth before taking control in the seventh. A bases-loaded walk and an RBI single from Dominic Ornelas gave SCU the lead.
Eliam Dudamel provided insurance in the ninth with a solo home run to extend the lead to 4-2.
The bullpen was stellar, with Braden Tucker earning the win in relief and the staff holding Wayland Baptist scoreless over the final five innings.
Series Takeaways
Southwestern Christian showed growth throughout the series, responding to adversity with improved execution at the plate and strong bullpen performances. The Eagles combined disciplined hitting — including double-digit walks in game two — with clutch late-game production to secure the series victory.
With momentum on their side, SCU will look to build on this performance as they continue conference play.
