Box Score #1 / Box Score #2 CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M baseball team split two games in doubleheader action against Lone Star Conference rival Eastern New Mexico on Saturday evening inside Wilder Park. The Buffs' four errors in the first game allowed the Greyhounds to pull out a big 9-2 win. But WT came from behind multiple times in the nightcap to pull out a 9-8 win, despite allowing 15 hits, for its second victory in the series' first three games. With the split, the Buffs move to 11-8 (3-4, LSC) and the Greyhounds 5-9 (1-2, LSC).
GAME 1 After three-up, three-down in both halves of the first inning, the Greyhounds jumped ahead 2-0 in the top of the second. Three singles along with a WT error would give the visitors the early lead inside Wilder Park.
Jacob Caples would continue his strong presence at the plate from last night as he led off the bottom of the frame with a ground-rule double.
Matt Cole then advanced him to third with a fly out to centerfield before
Dylan Dyson drove in the run with a groundout to first base, unassisted, making the score 2-1 in favor of the Greyhounds. The Buffs would have a big chance at retaking the lead in the third as they loaded the bases with no outs, but Cody Pope would get the visitors out of the inning with no damage done.
Another run in the fourth would come for the Buffs to tie the game 2-2 after a sacrifice fly by
Mason Shiflett scored Dyson. But the Greyhounds would respond in the sixth with a huge inning, rolling to seven runs to take the 9-2 lead, which would prove to be the final score
Cody Pope (3-1) got the win in 7.0 innings, allowing just two runs on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
Justin McAllister (1-2) suffered the loss on the mound for the Buffs after making the start. He pitched 5.0 innings, allowing four runs off six hits with four strikeouts.
The Greyhounds would score their nine runs off of eight hits with some help from four Buffalo errors. It would be the third-straight game for WT committing four errors. WT would put six hits up on the scoreboard; however, stranded six runners in the game.
GAME 2 Caples started off with his third-straight game in the series with a hit, sending a single to left field in the bottom of the first to bring home
Trace Hansen. Again, ENMU would come back to score two in the top of the second.
After trailing 3-2, the Buffs would put together a big bottom frame in the third.
Justin Hargrove stepped up with two runners on and drilled a two-RBI double to right center to score Dyson and Caples. Two batters later,
Ryan March swung for an RBI double of his own down the left field line to bring home Hargrove. That would put the Buffs up 5-3.
ENMU's bats would come alive in the top of the fifth; however, as the visitors tallied four runs to retake the lead, 7-5. But WT would score four of its own in the bottom of the fifth. An error by Nick DeArmond on the mound started it off with two runners on, allowing Max Brennan to reach and Dyson to score. That would end DeArmond's night as Kiegan Basso came in to relieve. March would then come up with two more RBIs as he sent a triple to right center, rounding Brennan and Hargrove. Two batters later, March would score off a sacrifice fly off the bat of
Josh Day, giving WT the lead back at 9-7.
Paul Lujan came in to close out the game as he did last night, as he allowed just one run in 1.2 innings, earning his second save of the series and third of the season.
Kyle Tinius (2-0) got his second win in two days in one inning on the mound. DeArmond (0-2) would take the loss.
March led the way offensively for the Buffs, going 2-for-3, with three RBIs and a run scored. Hargrove (2-for-3) would also drive in two runs and round the bases three times on his own. Hansen finished 2-for-4 on the night with an RBI and a run.
WT will be back in action tomorrow as it wraps up the four-game series with the Greyhounds. First pitch is set for 1 p.m .at Wilder Park in Canyon, Texas. Live stats and a free video webstream will be available for the game courtesy of West Texas A&M Athletic Media Relations.
