Swept Away: Scorpions lose twice to Pioneers in doubleheader

The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College dropped each end of a doubleheader to Wayland Baptist University on Saturday at Scorpion Field.

The Scorpions (1-3) next play host to the alumni at 4 p.m. Jan. 31 before meeting Lubbock Christian for a four-game series Feb. 6 to 8 at home.

WBU, which was ranked No. 24 in the final 2008 regular-season poll, is now 3-1. Last year, WBU swept the Scorpions in four games to start the season.

"I'm not satisfied by any means. We're a better baseball team than we showed the past two days," Scorpions coach Bryan Aughney said.  "As for some positives, we did some things well, but the only thing that counts is a ‘W,' so we didn't do too many things well." 

Pioneers 3, Scorpions 0, first game: Danny Gidora pitched a solid game for the Scorpions, allowing only one earned run in a complete game. He struck out nine and walked one, scattering six hits in seven innings.

"Danny did everything we asked him to do," Aughney said. "He threw strikes, competed well and gave us an opportunity to win. He's something to watch for in games to come."

The game was deadlocked at 0-0 through five innings before WBU scratched out one run in the sixth and two unearned runs in the seventh.

WBU's Todd Weldon struck out 11 Scorpions, allowing only two hits to Scott Price. Brett Swett pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the save.

Pioneers 12, Scorpions 2, second game: Six infield errors hurt the Scorpions, including four in the first inning when WBU jumped out to a 7-0 lead. The game was stopped after five innings because of the 10-run rule.

"We've got to mature mentally as a team, and believe in ourselves and believe that we're supposed to play straight up with these teams," Aughney said.

Scorpions starter Tony Lerma allowed eight runs over three innings, but only two runs were earned. Evan Hardman and Robert Mariscal pitched one inning each. The three pitchers allowed eight hits.

UTB-TSC collected only five hits off WBU's Trevor Stringer and Marcus Limon. Ryan MacDonald had two hits to lead the Scorpions.