FORT WORTH, Texas – One day after winning the series opener, Texas Wesleyan split a pair on Saturday against the Huskies of Houston Baptist University. Behind a strong starting performance from Shea Harrison, the Rams won 5-4 in the first game. In game two, a pair of late home runs by HBU gave the Huskies a 3-2 win.

Game 1: Houston Baptist got on the board early, scoring an unearned run to take a 1-0 lead. Leadoff hitter Craig Bowser reached on an error, advanced to third on Gregory’s single, then scored on a base hit by Tommy Crosby.

The Rams rallied to take the lead in the second. Designated Hitter Andy Hughes led off with a double, and moved to third as Aaron Ellis reached on an infield error. Derek Armstrong then plated both runners with a double.

HBU tied the game in the top of the fourth on a leadoff single and a pair of two-out hits, but the Rams came right back with three in the bottom half to take the lead again. Hughes led off with a walk and moved to second on Ellis’ groundout. Armstrong drove home his third and fourth runs of the game with his fourth homer of the season. Travis Clifford got the rally started again with a double, and eventually came around to score on Eric Casias’ sacrifice fly, putting the Rams up 5-2.

The Huskies closed the gap in the sixth, scoring a pair of runs on Jeremy Green’s 14th homer of the year, but that would be their last runs of the game. Ram reliever Seth Manning closed the door in the top of the seventh to preserve the 5-4 win.

Game 2: Wesleyan took the early lead with a run in the first inning. Billy Eaton tripled to lead off the frame, and Anthony Bolivar drove him home with a single.

The Rams added to their lead in the third, when Nathan Murrell singled and scored on Matt Putman’s double.

HBU closed the gap in their next at bat, though, as Gregory tripled with one out, and then scored on Crosby’s single.

HBU took the lead in the sixth on Crosby’s ninth homer of the season, a two-run blast that carried the fence in left field.

The Rams, needing a run to tie in the bottom of the seventh innings, got it as Murrell singled with one out, stole second, and eventually scored on a fielder’s choice.

In the eighth, the Huskies took the lead again on a Crosby homerun, and would have added more, but Gerald Bueno was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a hit by Justin Davis. The Rams tried to answer, loading the bases with one out, but failed to scored. Eric Casias flied out to right, but not deep enough for Armstrong at third to tag up. Murrell then grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

On the day, Armstrong led the Rams, going 3-7 with a double, a homer, and four RBI. Hughes added a pair of hits, including a double, and scored twice, and Putman drove in one with a double and tallied three walks.

Shea Harrison allowed 1 earned, scattering eight singles in five innings of work. He walked three and struck out three to earn the win in the first game.

Matt Mull pitched 5.1 innings to start game two, giving up three runs, all earned, on six hits. He struck out two and walked two and did not figure into the decision.

Seth Manning threw a combined three innings on the day, giving up two runs in the first game and one in the second. He struck out three and walked one on the day, and took the loss in game two.

The Rams now stand at 33-19-1 on the year, 16-10 in conference play. One last conference series remains before the post-season tournament – a home-and-home three game set against Paul Quinn. The Rams travel to south Dallas on Tuesday for one nine inning game, then return to Sycamore Park on Wednesday for a doubleheader.