FORT WORTH, Texas – The William Jewell Cardinals ended the Rams’ five-game winning streak, taking the first game of a Monday doubleheader by a score of 5-4. In the nightcap, the Rams scored one in the first and three in the second to coast to a 8-1 victory.

Game 1: The Cardinals struck for three in the first to take an early lead. After the leadoff hitter grounded out, Noah Peery drew a walk and Ben Blanton singled to put runners on the corners. Wesleyan starter Matt Mull then struck out David Bates, but Curt Plotner followed with an RBI single, and an error on the play by Eric Casias in centerfield allowed Blanton to score from first and Plotner to move to second. He then scored on a single by Dan Crowe before a strikeout ended the inning.

The Rams got two back in their half of the inning. Rightfielder Billy Eaton led off with a walk and moved to third on a one-out double by Andy Hughes. They both scored one batter later as Trey Combs ripped a double to the fence. Aaron Ellis followed with a single, but Combs was cut down at the plate on a nice throw from Cardinal leftfielder Eric Smith. Casias flew out to end the inning.

William Jewell scored their final two runs on solo homers in the second and fourth innings by Smith.

The Rams added a run on four hits in the third, as Casias knocked home Anthony Bolivar. They also scored once in the fourth when Travis Clifford, who singled to lead off, came home on a double by Eaton.

Mull takes the loss for Wesleyan, allowing five runs and eight hits in 3.3 innings of work. Keller native Josh Stout picks up the win for William Jewell.

Game 2: Anthony Bolivar gave Wesleyan the early lead. He singled with one out, moved to second on Andy Hughes’ single, went to third on an error by the Cardinals’ backstop, then scored two pitches later on another error.

The Rams put up three more in the second to take a commanding lead. Derek Armstrong led off with a double, went to third as Mike Green beat out a sacrifice bunt for a hit, then scored on Matt Putman’s sac fly. Cody Henderson then got on via a fielder’s choice, and Billy Eaton followed with a single. Anthony Bolivar then delivered the big hit – a two-out double that plated Henderson and Eaton to give the Rams a 4-0 lead.

Wesleyan scored another two in the fourth. J.D. Mata, running for Putman who singled, scored on an error by the second baseman, and Henderson, who reached by an error on the pitcher, scored on a sac fly by Hughes.

The Cardinals scored their only run of the game in the top of the fifth on a solo home run by Dan Crowe.

The Rams scored their final two runs in the fifth. After a pair of singles by Armstrong and Greene, Putman drove home a run with a sac fly and Henderson followed with an RBI single to close out the scoring with Wesleyan up 8-1.

Carlos Medina picked up the win for Wesleyan, allowing just one run and two hits in five innings. He struck out four and didn’t walk a batter. Joe Walterbach takes the loss for William Jewell.

The Rams now stand at 10-11-1 on the season, 5-4 in Red River Conference play. They take on McMurry University tomorrow afternoon at LaGrave Field. First pitch is at 1:30 PM.