RAMS WIN IN ELEVEN
April 21, 2008

Box Score

FORT WORTH, TX:  Monday’s rematch of last year’s Red River Athletic Conference final between 18th ranked Texas Wesleyan University (34-12) and Wiley College (19-19) lived up to the billing.  When the game, originally scheduled for 3:30 p.m. finally got underway at 6:15 p.m. the two teams put on a show for eleven innings until the Rams finally prevailed 4-3.

The Rams, who won that championship game 6-5 a year ago, remained perfect at 12-0 all-time against the Wildcats.

Texas Wesleyan took advantage of a Wiley error and an RBI single from Zach Smith to take a 2-0 lead in the third inning.  Wiley came back with an unearned run in the third and an RBI single from Ruben Rodriguez in the fourth.

In the bottom of the fourth, a sac fly from Smith put the Rams back on top 3-2, but Wiley got an RBI single from Rodriguez after a Texas Wesleyan error kept the seventh inning alive.

Wiley’s Manuel Romero set down ten straight rams to get Wiley to the ninth inning tied at three.

After the Wildcats started the eleventh with a leadoff single, Texas Wesleyan shortstop Butch Ballez started a phenomenal double-play to end the inning.

In the bottom of the eleventh, Smith drew a leadoff walk.  Matt Chutchian pinch-ran for Smith and advanced when Ballez executed a perfect hit-and-run with a sharp single through the left side.  Blake Walker then lined a shot into left-center to end the game at 4-3.

Joey Evans (2-1) picked up the win with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief.  He allowed just two hits and struck out three.

Both starters pitched well.  Romero allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out eight in an eight-inning effort.  Texas Wesleyan’s Jesse Wright allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out seven in five innings of work.

Texas Wesleyan will play its final home games on Tuesday.  They will host the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m.  The games will be followed by Senior Day festivities.