FORT WORTH, Texas - The Texas Wesleyan baseball team got solid performances on the mound, and the bats provided enough offense to win all three games against Red River Conference foe Southwestern Assemblies of God University this weekend at LaGrave Field. The Rams took the first game on Friday 7-0, then swept a Saturday doubleheader, winning both games by a 3-2 score.

Game 1 (Friday): Senior Andy Hughes pitched seven strong innings to pick up his second win of the season. No SAGU player got as far as third base in the game, as Hughes allowed only three hits while striking out nine and walking three. The Rams scored three runs in the fourth, one in the sixth, and three more in the eighth to put the game away.

In the fourth, Matt Putman led off with a bloop single and Trey Combs followed with a double. Billy Eaton drove home a run on a ground out, and Eric Casias followed with an RBI single through the left side. Travis Clifford plated the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly, one of three for the Rams in the game.

In the sixth, the Rams’ first three batters got on, and with one out, Anthony Bolivar beat out a double play to drive in Derek Armstrong.

In the Eighth, Armstrong led off with a triple and scored on Clifford’s second sac fly of the game. Nathan Murrell and Bolivar were then hit by back-to-back pitches and Cody Henderson walked to set up Putman’s RBI single and Combs’ sac fly.

Pitchers: TW - Hughes, Manning (8), Wilson (9) SAGU - Thompson, Fratt (8), Launius (8) Catchers: TW - Combs SAGU - Benningfield 2B: TW - Combs SAGU - Lewis RBI: TW - Eaton, Casias, Clifford 2, Bolivar, Putman, Combs Errors: TW - Bolivar, Ellis, Armstrong, Putman SAGU - Borth, Carl Win: Hughes Loss: Thompson Save: none

Game 2 (Saturday): Freshman Brad Shiller got the start for Wesleyan and threw five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out two and allowing two walks. Bryant Wilson gave up a pair of runs in three innings, but picked up the win as the Rams came through in the extra frame.

Wesleyan took the lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI sacrifice fly by Aaron Ellis. His drive to deep left plated Billy Eaton, who led off the inning with a single.

The Rams added another run in the fourth on another sacrifice. Travis Clifford and Matt Putman led off with singles and each moved up a base on Eric Casias’ sac bunt. Clifford then scored on Derek Armstrong’s sacrifice fly to center.

SAGU tied the game in the sixth. Wilson, on in relief of Shiller, got the first two batters on a strikeout and slow grounder to second, but allowed consecutive singles and a walk to load the bases. Lions’ second baseman Aaron Helfinstine then smashed a single up the middle to plate the tying runs.

The score was still tied after seven, so the teams went to extra innings. SAGU couldn’t score, despite a leadoff double by right fielder Brad Launius, so the Rams needed just one to win. With one out, Clifford smashed what looked like a walk-off homer to left, but the ball hit the top of the fence, and he had to settle with a double. After Putman was intentionally walked to set up the force, Casias popped out to the catcher. That brought Murrell up, who promptly laced a double over the left-fielder’s head. Clifford scored easily, and the Rams won 3-2.

Pitchers: TW - Shiller, Wilson (6) SAGU - Carl, Benningfield (7) Catchers: TW - Combs SAGU - Myers 2B: TW - Clifford, Murrell SAGU - Launius 3B: none HR: none RBI: TW - Ellis, Armstrong, Murrell SAGU - Helfinstine 2 Win: Wilson Loss: Benningfield Save: none

Game 3: Four Ram pitchers combined to limit the Lions to two runs on six hits. Shea Harrison started and gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits in three innings. He struck out four, including the side in order in the second, and walked none. Carlos Medina gave up two hits in 2.1 innings of work, followed by Casias who gave up one hit and struck out two in two-thirds of an inning. Seth Manning pitched a perfect seventh, including two strikeouts, for his first save.

SAGU took the lead with an unearned run in the first. After two quick outs, pitcher James Lewis lined a single to right, stole second, and scored on an infield error.

The Rams scored twice in the second to take the lead, but could have done much more damage had luck been on their side. Hughes led off with an 0-2 single to left and moved to second on Travis Clifford’s walk. The next pitch sailed three feet over the catcher’s head, and the runners tried to advance a base. The ball caromed off of the backstop padding and rolled right back to the catcher, who easily threw out Hughes at third, quieting the Rams’ rally.

The Rams had fallen victim to the same bad luck an inning before, when a similar wild pitch bounced all the way back to the pitcher, who easily threw out the runner advancing to second.

Still, the Rams were able to plate two runs. Murrell reached on a throwing error, and Putman and Combs each followed with RBI singles to put Wesleyan ahead 2-1.

The Lions tied the score in the third. Leadoff batter Jordan Tharp singled and stole second, then came home on James Lewis’ two-out single.

The Rams picked up the eventual winning run in the fifth. Eric Vaughn and Billy Eaton led off with singles, and Vaughn scored on a wild pitch.

The three wins are huge for the Rams, who have been playing better of late. Their record stands at 9-10-1, and they are now over .500 in conference play at 5-4. They also now own a five-game winning streak, their longest of the season.

The Rams remain at home for Spring Break, playing several games during the week. William Jewell College comes to LaGrave on Monday for a double header, followed by McMurry University on Tuesday. Thursday, Wesleyan takes on the University of Wisconsin-Plattville and St. Mary’s (of Minnesota). Conference play resumes on Friday and Saturday, as the Rams host metroplex rival Northwood University.

Pitchers: TW - Harrison, Medina (4), Wilson (6), Manning (7) SAGU - Lewis Catchers: TW - Combs SAGU - Myers 2B: TW - none SAGU - Launius 3B: none HR: none RBI: TW - Putman, Combs SAGU - Lewis Win: Medina Loss: Lewis Save: Manning

Records: TW: 9-10-1, 5-4 in Red River Conference