Box Score

Season Stats

LAWTON, Okla. – A bases loaded fielder's choice by Cameron University in the bottom of the 11^th inning Friday gave the Aggies a 2-1 victory over visiting West Texas A&M in the first game of a four game series.  With the loss, the Buffs fell to 18-11 on the year and 10-7 in Lone Star Conference play, while Cameron improved to 13-14 and 7-9 in league play.
 
WT held a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth, but surrendered the tying run and an error proved costly in the 11^th with the winning run scoring unearned.  It marked the 13^th game this season decided by one run as WT fell to 6-7 in one run games.  The Buffs stranded a season-high 14 runners on base in the contest.  The loss also snapped a five-game winning streak for WT.
 
The Buffs had ample opportunities to break the game open early in the contest having runners on base in six of the first seven innings.  In the third, senior Ryan March began the frame with a single up the middle and a walk moved him to second.  A hit batsman loaded the bases with two out, but the Aggies got out of the jam with a fielder's choice to end the threat.  WT had three innings of stranding two or more on base through the first six innings. 
 
In the top of the seventh, junior Trace Hansen began the inning with a solo home run to left field for his first home run as a Buff and the eighth of the season for the team.  Senior Aaron Blair singled to center and a pitching change followed for the Aggies.  Three quick outs followed leaving the 10^th runner stranded.
 
Despite the struggles offensively, senior Tyler Gibson had another strong outing as he allowed just five hits with four strikeouts and no walks through seven innings. 
 
In the bottom of the eighth, a one out single and a pinch-hit single through the right side by Cody Knight put runners at the corners for the Aggies with one out.  WT senior Paul Lujan replaced Gibson following the Knight single.  Jonathan Reyes hit a sacrifice fly to left tying the game.  Gibson went 7.1 innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits with four strikeouts not factoring into the decision.
 
WT had a one out single by March in the ninth, but was unable to convert as the Buffs left their 12^th runner stranded setting a new season-high surpassing the previous of 11 set at Oklahoma Christian on Feb. 13.
 
Lujan struck out the side in the ninth sending the game to extra-innings.  It marked the fourth extra-inning game for the Buffs this season.  Cameron averted damage in the 10^th with a double play and a fly out. 
 
WT junior Kyle Tinius relieved Lujan to begin the bottom of the 10^th.  Tinius retired the Aggies in order in the 10^th sending the game to the 11^th for the longest game in terms of innings this season for the Buffs.
 
For the third consecutive inning and sixth overall, the leadoff hitter reached base in the 11^th for the Buffs.  A sacrifice bunt moved junior Scott Cooper into scoring positon as he singled to center to begin the frame.  Cameron reliever Deven Youngstedt got a ground out for the second out and a strikeout ended the threat.
 
Cameron put the leadoff batter on first in the bottom of the 11^th as Dyce Applegate II singled to right.  Following an out, Tyler Cook reached on an error and Applegate II moved to third.  An intentional walk followed to load the bases.  Matt Nilmeyer hit a fielder's choice scoring the winning run for the Aggies.   
 
Tinius (3-1) took the loss pitching the final 1.2 innings, allowing the one unearned run, along with one hit, a walk and a strikeout in the eight batters he faced.  Youngstedt improved to 2-0 on the year pitching two innings, allowing one hit, one walk and he fanned one. 
 
WT tallied 10 hits in the game with Cameron having eight, but the 14 runners stranded and the lone error proved costly.  March led the way going 3 for 5, while Hansen was 2 for 5 with a run scored and the round tripper was the only extra-base hit in the game for either team.  Hale was the lone Cameron player with two hits, going 2 for 4 with a run scored.
 
The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., followed by a single game Sunday at 1 p.m. to conclude the series.  Links for live stats and streaming can be found at www.gobuffsgo.com, by clicking on the baseball schedule page.