By Bobby Allen

SDN Sports Editor

The Western Texas College Westerners exploded for 13 runs in their final two innings Tuesday, breaking 5-5 deadlock in the seventh to roll to an 18-5 victory over Wayland Baptist JV.

It was the first home game for the Westerners (4-20) since Feb. 3, and gave the team a load of confidence heading into this weekend’s series with defending conference champion Midland Junior College.

Robert Cedillo returned from a nagging injury to deliver a two-out, game-winning double in the sixth, igniting a seven-run outburst in the inning that gave WTC a comfortable lead.

“We started out a little flat. It wasn’t easy until the last two innings. We need to come ready to score early,” head coach Billy Hefflinger said. “We battled back and the guys responded well.”

The Westerners have scored 35 runs in the last three games, half the total the scored through the first 17 games of the season.

Hank Casey earned his first ever win, going four innings, giving up two runs on four hits.

Logan Hill and Troy Krugar combined for no hits and no runs over the final two innings.

“Hank really stepped up, as did Hill and Krugar,” Hefflinger said. “Troy had a rough outing Sunday, so this will give him some confidence heading into Midland.”

Hefflinger said he wants his club to get excited to be playing, something he stressed to the team after the win.

The Westerners took advantage of nine Wayland errors, stole eight bases in nine attempts and cracked 13 hits.

Eric Brown stole two of those bases, going 2-for-3 with four runs scored.

Kyle Toney was 3-for-5 with two runs and three driven in, and Josh Heiney and Chase Gilbert each hit a double and single. Gilbert also had two RBI.

Hefflingler said the crowd and the conditions, which were perfect, encouraged him.

“It’s great to be back home. You couldn’t ask for better weather,” he said. Temperatures at game-time were in the high 60s, with a slight breeze.

Having to travel throughout the first half of the schedule because of construction delays may have hindered the team, but Hefflinger said there is a silver lining with all the early road games.

“We have the best schedule in America,” he said. “We play all of our conference games after Midland at home, and have 26 of our last 28 games here.”

WTC begins a four-game set with Midland JC with a doubleheader at noon Saturday.