#18 RAMS TIE SCHOOL RECORD WITH 15th STRAIGHT WIN
April 5, 2008

Box Score - Game One

Box Score - Game Two

FORT WORTH, TX:  By sweeping a Red River Athletic Conference doubleheader from College of the Southwest (4-29, 1-8 RRAC) at LaGrave Field on Saturday, the 18th ranked Texas Wesleyan University baseball team (26-8, 9-0) extended its winning streak to a school-record tying 15 games.  The Rams took game one 10-0 and game two 9-2.

At 15 the Rams a school record that was set in 1980, four years before any of the current Rams were born.  During the streak the Rams have hit .407 as a team and have outscored their opponents 166-49.  Included in the 15 wins are seven against nationally ranked competition.

Steven DeFratus set the tone for the day by tossing his second consecutive shutout.  DeFratus retired the first 12 hitters he faced before losing the perfect game by hitting the leadoff man in the fifth.  The Mustangs loaded the bases in that inning with a single and two hit batters, but DeFratus escaped any damage.

The Rams got on the board in the second with a run scoring triple from Kyle Harmon and RBI singles from Brandon Frazier and Ryan Jacobi.  Texas Wesleyan added two runs on two hits in the fifth and ended the game with a five-run fifth highlighted by a two run game-ending triple from Antoine Cole.

DeFratus (6-2) allowed just one hit while striking out two in the run-shortened five-inning contest.

Butch Ballez went 4-for-4 at the plate while Frazier, Jacobi, and Blake Walker each recorded a pair of hits.

Aaron Wimpee followed DeFratus’ lead by setting down the first nine Mustangs he faced and shutting out College of the Southwest through five.

The Rams struck with a big inning in the third when they sent 12 hitters to the plate and scored eight runs on eight hits and an error.  Included in the eight hits were doubles from Walker, Cole, Brad Henderson, and Mikey Valdez.

The Rams added one more tally with an RBI single from Taylor Miller in the fifth.  In the sixth the Mustangs got an RBI double from Eric Hellekson and an RBI single from Gary Valenzuela.  Those runs broke up an impressive streak from the Texas Wesleyan pitching staff.  Rams hurlers had recorded 25 consecutive scoreless innings and 41 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.

Wimpee (6-0) got the win after allowing two runs on four hits while striking out six in 5.2 innings of work.

Miller went 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Walker was 2-for-3 at the plat for Texas Wesleyan.

The Rams will go for a record-setting 16th win on Tuesday, when they host Howard Payne University.  Game one of that doubleheader is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch at LaGrave Field.