RAMS SWEEP BISON
February 16, 2006

FORT WORTH, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University baseball team improved to 4-0 on the season by sweeping both ends of a doubleheader with Oklahoma Baptist (5-2) on Thursday.  The Rams took game one 2-1 and game two 8-2.

In game one, the Rams staked starter Shea Harrison to a 1-0 lead with an unearned tally in the bottom of the first.  Jason Diaz reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second on a walk, and scored on an error.

Harrison proceeded to scatter six hits over the first six innings while the Rams turned three double plays.  However, in the top of the seventh, Adam Dalby and Frankie Ibarra led off with back-to-back doubles to tie the game at one.

In the bottom of the seventh, J.R. Phelps was hit by a pitch and scored the game-winning run from first base on a double from Ross Elmore.

Hayden Lackey (2-0) got the win after working a perfect 0.2 innings.  Harrison finished with a run on 8 hits while striking out 5 in 6.1 innings.  Chad Rhoades was outstanding for Oklahoma Baptist but was tagged with the loss after allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits in 6.1 innings of work.

In game two, Brandon Frazier got the Rams started when he led off the bottom of the third inning with a triple to left-center.  Frazier later scored on an error to bring the score to 1-0.  The Bison tied the game with an unearned run in the top of the fourth.

In the fifth, Texas Wesleyan sent eleven men to the plate and plated seven runs.  Kent Russell led off with a single through the left side.  He stole second and advanced to third on a bunt from Cory Venable before scoring on a Billie Hicks base hit.  Jason Diaz was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out.  An RBI single from Josh Vander Hey and a grand slam off the bat of Travis Clifford accounted for five more runs.  Brad Henderson then ripped a pinch hit single and scored on a double from Russell to bring the score to 8-1.

Oklahoma Baptist added a run in the sixth when Alex Schenk reached on a fielder’s choice and later scored on a single from Frankie Ibarra.

Jason Hopson (1-0) earned the win by working 5 innings and allowing one unearned run on 2 hits while striking out 4.  Chris Ryan took the loss after allowing 7 runs (5 earned) on 6 hits while striking out 9 in 4.1 innings of work.

The Rams will return to action on Saturday, February 18, when they host William Jewell.  Game one of that doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.