HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – The Wilberforce baseball team took two of three from Rust College this weekend, claiming back-to-back HBCUAC series victories.  

GAME ONE: WILBERFORCE 16, RUST 2 

Sophomore Juan Gomez hurled another complete game, allowing an earned run with five hits with seven strikeouts. The reigning HBCUAC Pitcher of the Week improved to 2-1 on the season and has now allowed an earned run or less in three consecutive starts.  

Wilberforce took advantage of 17 walks and five errors in pushing 16 runs across the plate on just nine hits. The bulk of the damage came in the middle three innings, scoring 14 runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.  

Freshman Waldenburg Guerrero was 1-for-2 with two runs scored, a home run and three RBI, while senior Beau Spears went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, a home run, four RBI and two walks. Freshman Junior Veras Vasquez was the only Bulldog with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with a triple, three runs scored, and an RBI. 

GAME TWO: WILBERFORCE 10, RUST 9 

Senior Thomas Hampton and freshman Samuel Borrero connected on back-to-back doubles in the top of the seventh inning to cap a three-run inning enabling the Bulldogs to post the comeback victory.  

The three-run inning came on the heels of Rust taking the lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, coming back from a 4-0 deficit.  

Freshman Jalen Payne (1-3) earned his first collegiate win with two innings of relief. He allowed just one earned run (four total) on two hits with two strikeouts. Freshman Andres Anez started, allowing three earned runs (five earned) over five innings with six strikeouts. 

Borrero was the only Wilberforce player with multiple hits, while Spears reached in all four plate appearances, going 1-for-1 with three walks. Spears is currently tied for second in HBCUAC games with seven walks.  

Sophomore Christopher Alcantara-Diaz connected on his second homer of the season.  

GAME THREE: RUST 23, WILBERFORCE 22 

Rust scored the winning run on four walks, two intentional, with a fielders choice in the bottom of the ninth inning as the two teams combined for 45 runs on 37 hits and 22 walks.  

Wilberforce pitching allowed 17 hits, while issuing 14 walks. 

Every Bulldog starter recorded at least one hit with junior Darius Woodson leading the way, going 4-for-6 with two doubles, three runs scored and three RBI. Wilberforce got eight extra base hits, including home runs by Spears, Veras Vasquez, and Borrero.  

Alcantara-Diaz was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI; Guerrero was 3-for-6 with two runs scored and three RBI, and Hampton was 3-for-6 with three runs scored and an RBI. 

WHAT'S NEXT 

Wilberforce (10-9 overall, 5-2 HBCUAC) steps away from conference play Wednesday, traveling to Kentucky Christian.