Box Score

KINGSVILLE, Texas  – In the first game of doubleheader, the No. 25 West Texas A&M baseball team dropped a 6-3 decision at Texas A&M-Kingsville in the Lone Star Conference opener for both teams.  WT fell to 8-5 on the year, while TAMUK improved to 7-4.  The second game of the doubleheader, a nine-inning contest, also will be played Friday.
 
Six men left on base proved costly for the Buffs as the offensive struggles continued.  Senior Ryan March led the team with two hits and a walk, while junior Josh Day was 1 of 2 with two runs scored.  WT had seven hits in the contest, but a couple of key double plays also proved costly.
 
Senior Justin Disbro (2-1) dropped his first game of the season going 4.1 innings, allowing five runs – four earned on nine hits, with one walk and he fanned two.  TAMUK starter Ryan Benitez (2-1) took the win in five innings of work, allowing six hits, two runs – one earned, one walk and two strikeouts.  TAMUK closer Ryan Scott tallied his third save of the year.
 
TAMUK tallied 11 hits in the game as three Javelinas each had two hits.  Ryan Fickel was 2 for 3 with two runs scored, a double and a RBI, while Cline Andrews was 2 for 2 with a run scored and a RBI with a triple. 
 
For the seventh time in 13 games this season, WT scored the first run of the game as junior Trace Hansen reached on a dropped fly and advanced to second.  He later scored on a sacrifice fly from junior Mason Shiflett for a 1-0 lead.
 
TAMUK tied the game in the bottom of the frame as Fickel began the inning getting hit by the Disbro offering.  A sacrifice bunt moved him to second and he scored on a RBI single up the middle.  WT regained the lead in the second with two away as Day singled to third and March singled through the left side for two on with two out once again.  Day scored on a balk by Benitez for a 2-1 lead.
 
The Javelinas plated three runs in the third as Fickle began the frame with a double down the left field line.  A single up the middle scored the first run and Andrews tripled home the second run, followed by a Clint Wallace RBI single up the middle for a 4-2 lead.
 
WT had runners at second and third with one out in the fifth, but a double play ended the threat.  TAMUK added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings as WT stranded a runner at second in the sixth.
 
In the seventh, WT loaded the bases with nobody out down 6-2.  A double play turned out to be a killer once again as one run scored for a 6-3 game which is as close as WT would get.