Box ScoreCANYON, Texas – For the third consecutive game, the West Texas A&M baseball team used a final inning walk-off and second-straight against Angelo State in a thrilling 3-2 victory Saturday afternoon in the opener of a doubleheader.
With the win, WT improved to 28-14 on the year and 18-10 in Lone Star Conference play, while ASU fell to 27-14 and 15-13 in league play. The win also clinched the season series for the Buffs as they improved to 4-2 against ASU this season and now have a three-game lead on the Rams in the league standings. It marked the third consecutive game decided by one run and 20
th of the season as WT improved to 11-9 in one run games this season.
In a pitcher's duel in the opener, Nehwon Norkeh broke open a scoreless game in the top of the sixth with a two run home run to right center. It was his team-leading seventh round-tripper of the season. Through the first five innings, the teams combined for six hits.
The Rams had three hits in the sixth, including Norkeh's home run, with nobody out. WT made a call to the bullpen relieving junior starter
Brooks Trujillo for senior
Sean Michel. Michel got two fielder's choice outs and worked with runners at the corners with two away. He got out of the jam with a ground out to third.
An error began the top of the seventh for the Rams and David Goggin bunted Cameron Massengill to second after he reached on the miscue. A ground out to second stranded the Ram runner at third for the fifth left on base for Angelo State in the game.
The Buffs had 3-4-5 due up in the bottom of the seventh. On a 3-2, count with two out and down to his last swing, senior
Aaron Blair went deep to left center for a 2-1 deficit. It was Blair's third home run of the season as it gave WT new life. Junior
Aaron De La Paz pinch hit as the Rams made a change at pitcher in favor of Dillon Becker. De La Paz was plunked by the Becker offering and senior pinch-hitter
Dylan Dyson came in with the tying run in scoring position.
Becker threw five-straight balls in his first two batters to De La Paz and Dyson. Dyson walked as ASU made another change at pitcher for its other closer Graylon Brown as Becker threw seven balls in eight pitches. Junior pinch-hitter
Jace Reese singled home two runs through the left side for the 3-2 win and the second-straight walk off win against the Rams and third of the week.
WT had three runs on seven hits with one error, while ASU had two runs on six hits with no errors. Reese went 1 of 1 with two RBI and the game winner, while Norkeh was 2 for 4 with a run scored and a RBI on a home run.
Both starters had solid outings as junior
Brooks Trujillo went five innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs. ASU's Blake Bass went 6.2 innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs, with no walks and six strikeouts.
