Box Score

Season Stats

KINGSVILLE, Texas  – For the second-straight season in an elimination game on the first day at Nolan Ryan Field, the No. 2-seeded West Texas A&M Buffs ousted top-seeded Texas A&M-Kingsville, 11-5.  With the win, the Buffs improved to 35-17 overall, while TAMUK fell to 29-23. 
 
WT moves on to face the loser on No. 3 Angelo State vs. No. 4 Tarleton State Friday evening at 7 p.m.   ASU and TSU battle at 3 p.m. Friday.  Fans can access live stats of the game clicking here.
 
WT used an 11-3 scoring run over the fourth and fifth innings to battle back from an early 2-0 hole as junior Josh Day capped the run with a grand slam in the sixth inning and the 11-5 lead. 
 
The Buffs got the first two outs of the bottom of the first, but a walk and a doubled down the left field line by Cline Andrews put runners at second and third for the Javelinas.  A triple to left center by Hayden Vesely put the Javelinas up 2-0. 
 
WT had a chance in the top of the third with putting two on with nobody out on a single to left by senior Justin Hargrove and a walk, but a pop out and a pair of strikeouts ended the threat. 
 
A two out walk and a missed throw to second put JP Phillips at third for the Javelinas in the bottom of the fourth.  A second walk by WT junior pitcher Brooks Trujillo put runners at the corners.  Wes Aguilar reached on a fielder's choice as senior Johnny Gaines made a nice play at third and throw to second for the out. 
 
A leadoff triple down the right field line by junior Aaron De La Paz put the Buffs in position in the top of the fifth.  Senior Justin Hargrove beat out an infield single scoring De La Paz for a 2-1 score and senior Ryan March triple home two runs for a 3-2 WT lead with one away.  Junior Matt Cole singled down the right field line for a RBI and a 4-2 lead.
 
A single by Ryan Fickel and a double to left from Clint Wallace pulled TAMUK within 4-3 with nobody out in the bottom of the fifth.  Following a walk and a pitching change for the Buffs, a failed pickoff to second and error moved the runners to second and third for the Javelinas.  Vesely walked to load the bases.  A fielder's choice RBI out tied the game at four.  A wild pitch plated the go ahead run for the Javelinas at 5-4 through five innings.
 
A walk, single and hit batsman loaded the bases with two outs for the Buffs in the top of the sixth for the top of the order.  A walk to March tied the game at five as TAMUK starter Ryan Scott was relieved in favor of Matt Terrones.  A walk to Cole scored another run for a 6-5 WT lead.  Junior Trace Hansen pushed the count to 3-2 from a 0-2 start and, on the payoff pitch, walked for the third-straight free pass (fourth of the inning) and a 7-5 WT lead.  Junior Josh Day hit a grand slam to left for an 11-5 lead as it was his team-leading fifth home run of the season as WT scored seven runs in the frame and 11 runs over the last two innings.
 
A one out double to center from pinch-hitter Blake Johnson put the Javelinas in position in the bottom of the eighth.  Junior reliever Justin McAlister got a big strikeout for the second out of the frame.  He then got a strikeout of Amarillo native Larren Artis for the third out leaving a man stranded at second.
 
TAMUK went down in order in the bottom of the ninth.
 
WT tallied 11 runs on seven hits with two errors, while TAMUK had five runs on six hits with no errors.  The Buffs were led by Day who went 1 for 4 with a run scored and four RBI.  March went 1 for 4 with two runs scored and three RBI.
 
McAlister earned the win in relief as he improved to 2-2 on the year going 4.2 innings, allowing one hit while striking out eight and walking one as he completely shut down the Javelina offense.  Trujillo went 4.1 innings, allowing five runs – three earned, five hits, four walks and he fanned three.