May 1, 2008

BROWNSVILLE, Texas -- The Texas Wesleyan University baseball team (39-12) dispatched Huston-Tillotson (Texas) University (26-22) 5-2 in second round action at the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament on Wednesday (April 30). Texas Wesleyan advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 record while Huston-Tillotson was eliminated with the loss.

Hayden Lackey pitched a scoreless ninth while making his 102nd career appearance.  That broke the standing NAIA national record of 101 held by Viterbo's Michael Iverson (2002-05).  Lackey's fifth save of the season also extended his Texas Wesleyan career record to 24.

Meanwhile the Rams broke another long standing school record.  Texas Wesleyan has plated 434 runs this season, breaking the school mark of 432 set in 1982

Brandon Frazier drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first, stole second base, and scored on a Zach Smith single to give Texas Wesleyan a 1-0 lead.

Huston-Tillotson tied the game with an unearned run in the third.  The Rams came back with an RBI double from Blake Walker in the bottom of the frame.  However HTU answered with a leadoff home run from Jeremy Macklin in the fourth.

The game remained tied at two, until Taylor Miller untied it with a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh.  Texas Wesleyan added two more runs with a two-out two-run single from Miller in the eighth.

Jayson Rachuig (7-2) picked up the win after two runs, one earned, on five hits while striking out six in eight innings of work.

Walker, Miller, and Kyle Harmon each recorded a pair of hits for Texas Wesleyan.

The top seeded Rams advance to play fourth seeded Northwood University in semifinal action on Thursday.  That game is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. first pitch.