Box Score

Season Stats

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas  –   The West Texas A&M upset bid of No. 6/9 Southern Arkansas fell just short Friday in the QuickTrip Division II Classic.  The Muleriders tied the game in the bottom of the ninth and Chris Quinn belted a lead-off home run to left ended the game, 4-3.  With the loss, the Buffs fell to 2-2 on the year, while SAU improved to 4-1. 
 
Each of the Buffs' four games this season has been decided by one run.  In Friday's contest, WT tallied eight hits with two errors and three runs.  SAU won its second consecutive game in its final at bat as it defeated Nebraska-Kearney yesterday in the bottom of the ninth. 
 
WT was led by junior Jace Reese who went 2 for 4 with two RBI and a double.  Junior Matt Cole also had two hits and a RBI to lead the team.  WT senior pitcher Tyler Gibson had a strong second game in his WT career as he went nine innings, allowing six hits, three runs – two earned, one walk and he fanned nine with the no decision. 
 
SAU's starting pitcher Preston Gray (2-0) went all 10 innings, allowing eight hits, three runs – two earned, one walk and two strikeouts.  WT senior Kyle Olason (1-1) took the loss on the walk-off home run in the 10^th.
 
The Muleriders broke open a scoreless game in the third with a triple to left from William Townsend.  Trevor Rucker hit a sacrifice fly for the 1-0 lead.  In the fourth, SAU added the second run as Carver Rademacher doubled down the left field line to begin the frame.  He advanced to third on a throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt and scored on a wild pitch. 
 
The Buffs broke through in the top of the fifth as junior Mason Shiflett singled through the right side, followed by a junior Aaron De La Paz single to center.  Cole singled home the run for a 2-1 deficit.  WT tied the game in the sixth as senior Jacob Caples doubled down the left field line and scored on a Reese single down the line.
 
WT took the lead in the eighth as a fielding miscue allowed junior Trace Hansen to reach base to begin the frame.  A RBI double from Reese plated Hansen for a 3-2 score.
 
SAU began the ninth with a double down the left field line by Jon Phillips as it was the first hit for the Muleriders since the fourth inning.   Gibson sat SAU down in order in the fifth through eighth innings.  Rademacher came up big for SAU once again with a single through the left side tying the game at three.  Gibson came back with two big strikeouts to get out of the frame preserving the tie and sending the game to extra innings.
 
WT put the potential go ahead runner at first with a Hansen walk with one out.  Caples flied out to deep center for the second out and Hansen was caught stealing sending the game to the bottom of the 10^th.
 
With a 2-2 count Quinn belted the round-tripper for the game winner. 
 
The Buffs return to action on Tuesday at Southwestern Oklahoma State for a single game at 2 p.m. in Weatherford, Okla.  From there, the Buffs are scheduled for four games at Oklahoma Christian University next weekend with three against OCU and a neutral site contest versus Dakota State.  WT will play a doubleheader at OCU on Friday, followed by a split doubleheader Saturday against OCU and Dakota State.