Baseball Opens Season with Top 20 Victory

VICTORIA, Texas — Doane Baseball opened the 2026 season Friday with an 8-6 neutral-site win over No. 17 Wayland Baptist (Texas) at Riverside Stadium.

The Tigers jumped out early with three runs in the top of the first and never trailed. Carter Roth set the tone from the leadoff spot, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a two-run homer, while Johnny Vulcano drove in three and Sam Kwapnioski reached base three times (two walks) and added an RBI-double.

Doane's first-inning surge started with singles from Roth and Kwapnioski, then Jordan Bond laced an RBI-double to left-center to open the scoring. Max Harris followed with an RBI-single, and Vulcano's groundout brought home another run for a 3-0 advantage.

The Pioneers answered in the bottom half, using a Doane error to extend the inning before Sinclaire Pimentel connected for a two-run homer to left to make it 3-2. Wayland Baptist added another run in the second to cut the margin to 4-3 after Doane scored once in the top half on Kwapnioski's two-out RBI-double that plated Jett Grossart (walk, stolen base).

The Tigers created separation in the fifth. After an error loaded the bases, Vulcano delivered a two-run single up the middle to push the lead to 6-5. Doane then added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth, highlighted by Roth's two-run blast to left.

On the mound, Kaden Crawford earned the win in the season opener, working 5.0 innings with three strikeouts. Garrett Klein closed the door for the save, striking out four over the final 2.0 innings.

Doane finished with 10 hits (three doubles, one home run) and went 5-for-17 with runners in scoring position, while also turning a key out at the plate defensively to limit damage in the fourth.

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