Box Score CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M baseball team took the final game of its weekend series with rival Eastern New Mexico on Sunday afternoon and did so in dramatic fashion. After giving up four runs and the lead in the top of the ninth, the Buffs tallied five in the bottom of the frame, the final four coming off a walk off grand slam by senior
Aaron Blair which gave the Buffs the 7-4 victory. WT takes the series winning three of four on the weekend and improves to 12-8 overall and 4-4 in Lone Star Conference play. The Greyhounds fall to 5-10 (1-3, LSC) with the loss.
Clyde Kendrick would have trouble on the mound early for the Greyhounds as he walked three WT batters in the first inning and had the bases loaded with one out. But ENMU would throw out the second out at home on a fielder's choice before Kendrick finished with a strikeout to get out of the jam.
Brooks Trujillo, who made the start for the Buffs, got himself in a tight spot as well in the fifth. After allowing his first hit of the game, the runner would advance to third off a sac bunt and wild pitch with only one out. However, Trujillo would strike out the remaining two batters to end the inning.
The Buffs would break through in the bottom of the sixth for two runs. Two walks and a hit batter would load the bases for WT with
Jace Reese Jacob Caples and
Matt Cole and only one out.
Justin Hargrove then stepped up to the plate to hit an RBI single to centerfield to score Reese. Kendrick would then walk Max Brennan to make the WT advantage 2-0. He would be pulled from the mound after the inning.
ENMU responded in the top of the ninth to score four runs and take the lead for the first time at 4-2. But the Buffs had plenty left in the tank going into the bottom of the frame.
Ryan March would start if off by reaching with a single followed by a walk by
Trace Hansen.
Josh Day, still with no outs, would lay down a sac bunt to advance the runners; however, ended up reaching first base thanks to a fielding error by ENMU pitcher Dylan Montano. Reese then stepped up and drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to center field. Caples was intentionally walked after that to load the bases again. That was when Blair, pinch hitting for Hargrove, sent the monster swing over the right field wall to walk off and win the game for WT, 7-4.
Trujillo had an impressive outing for the Buffs as he pitched 8.1 innings, allowing three runs off four hits, with one walk and nine strikeouts. But
Paul Lujan (1-0) would pick up the win for WT. Montano (0-1) would receive the loss.
Each team finished the day with five hits and an error.
WT will be back in action next weekend for a four-game LSC series at Angelo State. The Buffs and Rams will begin the series in San Angelo on Friday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. They will then play a double header Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. before wrapping up the weekend Sunday at 1 p.m.
