RAMS TAKE SPLIT WITH CRUSADERS
April 4, 2006

BELTON, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University baseball team (15-13) split a doubleheader at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (10-18) on Tuesday.  Texas Wesleyan took game one 6-3, and the Crusaders held off a late rally to earn an 8-7 win in game two.

With game one tied at two in the sixth inning, the Rams batted around and put four runs on the board.  The Crusaders threatened in the bottom of the frame by loading the bases with just one out, but Hayden Lackey entered the game and put out the fire with no damage done.

Michael Talley (2-0) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief.  Lackey earned his third save of the year by tossing 1.2 innings and allowing one run on three hits.  Paul Schiller took the loss for the Crusaders to drop to 0-2

Jason Diaz led the offense with a 3-4 performance.  Travis Clifford, Jeff Piaskowski, and Cory Venable each recorded a pair of hits for the Rams.

In game two, Kent Russell gave the Rams a 4-3 lead with a two-run single in the fifth, only to see the Crusaders move ahead 8-4 with a three run homer from RB Garza in the fifth and a pair of RBI-singles in the sixth.

With two outs in the seventh, pinch hitter JR Phelps started the Rams’ rally by drawing a walk.  Freshman Jeremy Howard followed with his first career home run to bring the score to 8-6.  Brandon Fraizer followed with a single and scored on a single from Diaz to put the Rams within a run.  Unfortunately the rally fell just short and the Crusaders held on for the 8-7 win.

Aaron Lenz (0-1) suffered the loss.  Ricky LaFont (1-1) earned the win by tossing one inning and allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits.