RAMS KNOCK OFF HUSKIES
May 3, 2007

Box Score

CEDAR HILL, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University baseball team (37-8) took a thrilling win over Houston Baptist University in second round action at the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament.  The Rams prevailed 1-0 behind an outstanding pitching performance by Ryan Riddle.

With today’s win, Texas Wesleyan advances to the semifinal round as the only undefeated team.  They need just two wins to claim their first conference championship since winning the Texoma Conference in 1979.  The Rams’ semifinal contest will be a rematch with Houston Baptist played at 12:30 p.m. on Friday in Cedar Hill, TX.

The Rams also need one more win to be assured a spot in next week’s Region VI tournament.  Although the Rams were ranked as high as 8th in the nation this season and easily hold the second best record in the Region, they were rated an baffling 6th in the region this week and fell out of the national poll.  Other than top-ranked Oklahoma City (45-9), the Rams have at least two more wins and five fewer losses than each of the teams now rated directly ahead of them in the Region.

In today’s game, Riddle retired each of the first 15 Huskies that he faced before Brian Franze blooped a double into left field to lead off the sixth inning.  Riddle stranded the tying run at third and kept the shutout alive when he snagged a grounder back to the mound and started a 1-6-3 double play.  

Meanwhile the Rams had given Riddle a 1-0 lead in the fifth.  Antoine Cole singled and later scored the game’s only run when Ross Elmore ripped a clutch two-out single into right center.

After perfect innings in the seventh and eighth, Riddle took the mound in the ninth but was relieved after giving up a leadoff single.

Riddle handed the ball off to the RRAC Pitcher of the Year Hayden Lackey who shut the door and stranded the tying run at third base.

Riddle improved to 8-0 after allowing just three hits and striking out six while walking none.  Lackey picked up his 13th save.

Eight different Rams hit safely including doubles from Josh Vander Hey and Brad Henderson.  Jay Prigmore tossed all eight innings for Houston Baptist.  He induced three double plays and stranded eight base runners in the loss.