Box Score

Season Stats

WT Press Conference

Tournament Central

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.  – A complete game, four hit shutout by West Texas A&M senior Tyler Gibson highlighted the Buffs' NCAA South Central Regional opening round 5-0 victory over No. 2-seed St. Edward's Thursday afternoon at Suplizio Field on the campus of Colorado Mesa University. 
 
The Buffs, the No. 5-seed, now will face No. 4-seed Colorado State-Pueblo Friday at 8 p.m. (CT), in a winner's bracket game as CSU-Pueblo battled back from a 6-1 deficit in the first game Thursday to defeat No. 3-seed Angelo State, 9-8.  Fans can access live stats and streaming of the game by clicking here. 
 
CSUP and the Buffs have met 17 times with CSUP leading 10-7 and have won the last two in the series last season in Pueblo.  The season before, WT won three of four in Canyon.  Prior to 2013, the teams hadn't played since 2001.  This will be the first neutral site meeting in series history.  WT has won six of the last 10 as CSUP began winning six of seven.  WT head coach Matt Vanderburg is 4-3 against the Thunderwolves.
 
WT improved to 36-18 on the year, while SEU fell to 40-12.  It marked the first win against the Hilltoppers in program history for WT as it improved to 1-8 all-time.  The teams last met in 2013 in Canyon.  WT won last season's NCAA opener as the No. 2-seed Defeating No. 5-seed Tarleton State 13-10.  The Buffs went 2-2 in their first NCAA South Central Regional last season.
 
"It's always good to get out and get a win in the first game," Vanderburg said.  "I thought we did a pretty good job and played outstanding defense.  We were able to get some runs early and set the tone and Gibson (Tyler) pitched outstanding."
 
The Buffs banged out five runs on 12 hits in the contest, while Gibson and the Buff "D" held SEU scoreless and just four hits and two errors in the game.  Gibson (7-3) walked two and fanned four for his fourth complete game of the season and second shutout.  It was the third shutout of the season for the Buffs.
 
"It feels good to shut them down today," Gibson said.  "We knew they were going to be good hitters and we tried to make quality pitches and help out our infielders and outfielders."
 
SEU entered the game with its top six players hitting over .300 for the season and 11 overall as the team is hitting .319 for the season. 
 
Offensively, the Buffs were led by senior Johnny Gaines who went 3 for 4 with a run scored and a RBI, along with a double.  Junior Trace Hansen went 2 for 5 with a run scored and a RBI.  Junior Aaron De La Paz went 1 for 4 with two RBI. 
 
SEU was led by Jonathon Arrowood, who leads the team in hitting at .375, went 2 for 4 in the game offensively.  Bryce Davis (8-2) took the loss going just 1.1 innings, allowing four earned runs and one walk.  Eric Hester went the rest of the way for 7.2 innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, walked one and fanned two.
 
The Buffs opened the game with a single by senior Ryan March as he advanced to second on an error.  A double play followed, but with two away, Hansen singled to center and junior Josh Day was hit by a pitch.  De La Paz came up with a double down the right field line on 0-2 count for a 1-0 lead. 
 
WT began the second with a senior Justin Hargrove double down the left field line.  Senior Max Brennen beat out the play at first for a bunt single and Gaines doubled home Hargrove for a 2-0 lead.  March tallied a RBI on a ground out and Hanson also drove in a run on an infield single for a 4-0 lead.
 
Hester took over for the Hilltoppers in the second inning as both he and had strong outings as neither team had much offense through the next four innings.  Arrowood began the bottom of the fifth with a single, but Gibson and the Buffs shutdown the rally as the Hilltoppers stranded two.
 
A one-out triple to right center by junior Josh Day in the seventh and a ground out to second by De La Paz put WT up 5-0.  The Hilltoppers had a run on in the seventh and ninth, but didn't score.