Photo by Kami Wood

Plainview, Texas – The Central Christian College baseball team was in action this past weekend, opening up Sooner Athletic Conference play on the road against the Wayland Baptist University Pioneers.

The two sides squared off in a pair of seven inning games on Friday afternoon, then wrapped up the three game series, with a scheduled nine inning game on Saturday. Unfortunately, the weekend belonged to the Pioneers, taking all three games of the series.

The closest game of the series was the opener on Friday. The Tigers led the Pioneers 5-2 through four and a half innings. However in the bottom of the fifth, the Pioneers rallied, and put up nine runs on the Tigers and then eventually went on to win 12-5. The Tigers scored five runs on six hits, led by JT Taylor, who went 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Peyton Ramsey got the start on the bump for the Tigers, and was collared with the loss. He went four innings, allowed six runs, five of them earned, on seven hits, with two strikeouts and two walks.

In the second game, the Tigers again had the early lead over the Pioneers. They scored three in the top of the first, another in the top of the second, and another in the top of the 5th to lead 5-4. But then in the bottom of the fifth, the Pioneers put up 11 and broke the game open. They went on to win 20-6. The six runs for the Tigers in game two came off of six hits. Chris Escamilla led the Tiger hitters, going 2 for 3 with a pair of runs scored. The big hit of the game for the Tigers was a solo homerun by Joseph Gusman in the top of the fifth. Four different pitchers saw action against the Pioneers in game two, with Tristan Castner getting the start. He worked the first three innings then turned the ball over to Cole Hancock who earned the loss.

Game three on Saturday got out of hand quickly.  The Tigers scored one run in their half of the first inning, but then promptly gave up 12 runs to the Pioneers in their first at bat. After the Tigers scored two in the second, the Pioneers added seven more to lead 19 to 3. They would eventually go on to win 26-5. The Tiger offense did manage to come up with nine hits in the finale, led by the Gusman brothers. Joseph was 2 for 3 with a double, and Carlos was 2 for 4 with a pair of singles and three RBI. The Tigers used seven different arms on the hill in game three, starting with freshman Branta Mikulecky, who registered the loss.

The Tigers are now 6-14 on the year and 0-3 in conference play. They are scheduled to be back in action this weekend at home against SAGU. At this time, games are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, but the weather may have other plans. Stay up to date of any potential time and day changes to the schedule, at https://ccctigers.com/sports/baseball/schedule.