AC baseball falls to Wayland Baptist JV

In their first midweek game since the reboot of athletics, the Amarillo College baseball team was defeated in a shootout against the Wayland Baptist University junior varsity squad on Tuesday at Hodgetown.

The Badgers took a 3-0 lead in the first two frames as starting pitcher Lawson Peel had a strong showing in his fourth start of 2024.

The Pioneers scored two runs in the eighth inning to take an 8-6 lead and followed with a six-run ninth to seal the 14-11 victory.

Amarillo College entered the game with a pitching script – a plan that gave five pitchers an opportunity to get reps in on the mound before conference play.

"We wanted to give guys some opportunities. It was a staff game so to speak where we are getting pitchers some work before conference," Amarillo College head coach Brandon Rains said.

Peel allowed two hits, walked none, and struck out two batters in two innings of work before redshirt freshman Cam Saleh was placed on the hill in the third and fourth inning.

Saleh gave up three hits, two earned runs, one walk, and struck out one.

Evan Peterson took over pitching duties in the fifth inning with the contest tied at 3-3.

The freshman from Colorado struck out three batters, walked one, allowed three hits and one earned run.

Plainview High School product Isaac Garza replaced Peterson to start the seventh inning. The freshman struck out one batter, walked one, allowed two hits and two earned runs.

Freshman Remington Spoerl was the Badgers pitcher for the final inning. The Rockwall High School grad allowed six walks, six earned runs, and struck out one batter.

Amarillo College scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth frame.

Grant Watkins recorded his fifth home run of the season, hitting a two-run blast well over the right field fence.

The sophomore brought home David De Hoyos, who was walked to begin the inning.

Luis Gonzalez doubled, Jan Avila tripled, and Sydney Ward singled in the frame.

Watkins tallied a team-best three hits. De Hoyos and Avila had two hits apiece.

The Badgers have now scored a double-digit run total in five consecutive games.

With the loss, Amarillo College's 10-game win streak came to an end. The Badgers record sits at 12-4 heading into their conference opener at Frank Phillips College this Friday and Saturday.

The pair of doubleheaders are scheduled to begin at noon.