Box ScoreKINGSVILLE, Texas – Struggles with timely hitting for the West Texas A&M baseball team continued in the first game of a doubleheader at Texas A&M-Kingsville Sunday afternoon. TAMUK scored the first run in the fourth inning and added the insurance run in the sixth and held on for a 2-1 victory. WT fell to 9-6 and 1-2 in Lone Star Conference play, while TAMUK improved to 8-5 and 2-1 in league play.
In the opener, following Saturday's postponement due to inclement weather, it was a pitcher's duel for the first three innings as WT put two on, but once again couldn't find the timely hit to bring anyone home stranding both runners.
A walk to begin the bottom of the second was the first base runner for the Javelinas in the game. TAMUK got the runner to third, but a fly out ended the threat as the Buffs preserved the 0-0 score. The Javelinas then got the benefit of a throwing error and got runners to second and third, but couldn't score in the third.
WT junior pitcher
Justin McAllister had a no-hitter going into the fourth inning when Cline Andrews began the frame with a triple to right center. A RBI single by Hayden Vesely scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth as TAMUK loaded the bases with nobody out. McAllister settled down and got out of the jam with three-straight strikeouts to prevent further damage.
To that point, TMAUK had left five on base, while WT had left four. For the game, TAMUK left six on, while WT stranded five.
WT junior Jace Hansen began the top of the sixth with a single up the middle. A sacrifice bunt moved him to second, but a pair of strikeouts ended the threat by Matt Terrones for his seventh and eighth strikeouts of the game.
A leadoff walk and single up the middle put two on for the Javelinas in the bottom of the inning with one out. WT made a call to the bullpen as senior
Sean Michel relieved McAllister. A RBI bunt single from Wesley Aguilar scored the insurance run and a 2-0 lead. WT prevented further damage with a fly out to right and Aguilar was caught in a run down for the third out.
McAllister went 5.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits, with two walks and six strikeouts.
TAMUK closer Ryan Scott relieved Terrones beginning the top of the seventh as Terrones went six innings of shutout baseball allowing four hits with eight strikeouts and no walks. Terrones had an 11.05 ERA entering the contest. Scott moved into second all-time in saves for the Javelinas with his 17
th of his career on Friday in the 6-3 opening win in the series.
WT began the seventh with leadoff double to right center by junior
Josh Day. He then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Senior
Justin Hargrove got the Buffs on the board with a single through the right side as Day scored for a 2-1 deficit.
Scott got a strikeout for the first out on a called third strike on senior
Heath Davis and senior
Ryan March grounded into a double play to end the game.
Day led the team with two hits in three at bats with a run scored. Hargrove was 1 of 3 with a RBI. Both teams managed six hits in the contest and each had one error.
TAMUK won the game 2-1 for the seventh one-run game for the Buffs this season. WT fell to 3-4 in one-run games this season. Scott earned his fourth save of the season, while Terrones moved to 2-0 and McAllister fell to 1-1.
