Box Score

Season Stats

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.  – A total of 13 runners left on base doomed the West Texas A&M baseball team in a 5-2 loss to No. 19 Colorado State-Pueblo Friday night at Suplizio Field in the NCAA South Central Regional.  WT fell to 36-19 on the year, while CSUP improved to 41-14.
 
WT had two runs on six hits, but committed two errors leading to two unearned runs.  CSUP had five runs on five hits and battled back from a 2-1 deficit with two runs in the seventh and eighth as the Buffs were held scoreless since the fifth.  The four runs in the final three innings were the first runs for CSUP since the first inning.
 
The game started about three hours late due to rain earlier in the day which pushed the early games back.  It didn't start until 10:55 p.m. CT and ended close to 2 p.m. CT.
 
A walk and error put two on for the Thunderwolves in the bottom of the first with nobody out.  WT turned a double play to get two out with a runner at third.  Manny Menocal singled up the middle plating the first run of the game for a 1-0 CSUP lead.
 
The fourth free pass issued by CSUP starting pitcher Victor Soto and a sacrifice bunt put a runner at second with one out for the Buffs in the top of the third.  The fifth walk put runners at the corners with two away.  WT came up empty once again leaving the bases full for seven stranded runners through three innings.
 
WT loaded the bases once again in the fifth and senior Aaron Blair grounded out to first for a RBI and tied the score at one.  Senior Justin Hargrove beat out an infield single for a 2-1 WT lead. 
 
The Thunderwolves put two on with a walk and a single through the left side for their first hit since the first inning.  WT starter Brooks Trujillo came back with a strikeout and a fly out to get out of the jam.  The Buffs then had the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, but left them on for 13 stranded for the game.
 
CSUP began the bottom of the seventh with a walk, but a pop out to first for the first out of the frame.  Trujillo tossed his eighth strikeout of the game for the second out, but Beau Cebulski, the eighth hitter in the CSUP lineup, took the first pitch to left field for a two run home run and a 3-2 CSUP lead.  It was his fourth home run of the season.
 
An infield single began the bottom of the eighth for the Thunderwolves.  WT mishandled the sacrifice bunt attempt as CSUP had two on with nobody out as the Buffs made a call to the bullpen.  Senior Sean Michel replaced Trujillo as he got a ground out which moved the runners to second and third.  WT went to the bullpen again as senior Kyle Olason replaced Michel with the bases loaded and one out. Following the change, Dominick Bregar laced a two RBI single to center for a 5-2 lead.  Senior Paul Lujan replaced Olason following the hit.  Lujan got out of the jam with a strikeout and a ground out. 
 
The Buffs were unable to get anything across in the ninth. 
 
WT now has a really quick turnaround as it will play St. Mary's in an elimination game at 1 p.m. CT Saturday as St. Mary's lost 5-2 in 10-innings to Angelo State in the second game Friday.  The winner of that game will play CSU-Pueblo at 7 p.m. Saturday night. 
 
Trujillo (2-3) took the loss as he went seven innings, allowing four hits, five runs – three earned, four walks and he fanned eight.  Other than the Cebulski pitch, Trujillo had a pretty strong outing.  Soto (9-3) earned the win in seven innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs, nine walks and he fanned five.
 
Hargove went 2 for 3 for the Buffs with a RBI, while Cebulski was 2 for 3 with a run scored and two RBI for the Thunderwolves.