Box Score

Season Stats

CANYON, Texas  – A three-run home run by West Texas A&M junior Roberto Carrasco in the bottom of the fifth highlighted a 6-3 victory over visiting Colorado School of Mines on opening day for the 2016 baseball season. 
 
The Buffs belted six runs on ten hits in the game with one error, while Colorado Mines had three runs on seven hits with two errors in the game.  WT senior Brooks Trujillo (1-0) took the win, while Christian Rooney (0-1) took the loss.
 
The win improved WT to 11-12 all-time in season-openers and 8-0 under eighth year head coach Matt Vanderburg. 
 
Senior Trace Hansen began the bottom of the first with a single up the middle and then advanced to third on a wild pitch and a stolen base with two out.  Rooney came back with a strikeout to end the threat leaving Hansen stranded at third.
 
A two base throwing error for junior Hunter Henderson began the bottom of the second and senior Jace Reese hit a sacrifice bunt moving Henderson to third with one out.  Later in the frame, a pop up and junior Troy LaBrie was plunked by the Rooney offering for runners at the corners with two away.   A ground out to second ended the threat. 
 
A pair of two out hits put runners at the corners for the Orediggers in third.  Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year Nate Olinger singled to center scoring the first run of the game for Colorado Mines.  Trujillo, the Co-Lone Star Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year, got out of the jam with a fly to center.
 
With two away in the bottom of the third, a single by redshirt senior Nick Chapman and a walk put runners on first and second.  It was Chapman's first hit since the 2014 season as he earned a medical redshirt last year.  Junior Hunter Henderson drew a walk to load the bases followed by a meeting at the mound by the Orediggers.  Reese battled back for a 3-2 count after falling behind, but drew the RBI walk on pitch outside to tie the game at one.  Rooney earned his second strikeout of the game to end the inning as the Buffs left the bases loaded for the sixth runner stranded in the game.
 
Senior Mason Shiflett drew a one out walk, stole second and later scored on a senior Matt Cole RBI single through the left side for a 2-1 WT lead in the bottom of the fourth. 
 
Jace Selsor doubled down the left field line to begin top of the fifth and was moved to third on a nice sacrifice bunt.  The Buffs got a fielder's choice as Selsor was out at home with a nice play from Cole to junior catcher Troy LaBrie to preserve the lead.
 
The Orediggers went to the bullpen in the top of the fifth as Rooney went four innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, four walks and he fanned two in 84 pitches.  Clark Martin retired the first batter he faced and then plunked senior Josh Day.  A walk put two on with two out and a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third.  Carrasco belted a three run home run to right in a stiff Northwest wind for a 5-1 lead.
 
Colorado Mines got into a run down with runners at the corners as the Buffs tried to apply the tag on Josh Martinez between first and second, but as the tag was applied the ball came out as a run scored.  Trujillo fanned the next batter to end the threat as the Buffs held a 5-2 lead.
 
Junior Justin McAllister relieved Trujillo in the top of the seventh as Trujillo went six innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, walked three and fanned four in 90 pitches.   After a single to center, pinch-hitter Griffin Jones hit into the second double play of the day for two away.  WT got out of the inning following an error with McAllister's first strikeout.
 
The Buffs scored again with four consecutive singles with two away in the bottom of the eighth and a walk to Reese loaded the bases.  WT was unable to bring anything home with the bases loaded, heading into the top of the ninth leading 6-2.
 
Colorado Mines put two on with a walk and a ground rule double off senior Luke Wiechec in the top of the ninth with nobody out.  A strikeout followed and a walk to Daniel Ciraula loaded the bases.  A fielder's choice out at home followed for the second out.  Logan Smith walked home a run for a 6-3 score as the Buffs went to the bullpen to face Olinger who sits 2 for 4 on the day with a RBI.  Senior Kyle Tinius got Olinger to ground out to second to end the game.
 
For the game, Carrasco went 2 for 5 with a home run and three RBI, while Cole and Chapman each had two hits.  Olinger and Selsor each had two hits for the Orediggers. 
 
The Buffs will be back in action Saturday at 3:30 p.m. versus #11 St. Edward's at Wilder Park, while Colorado Mines will play Southwestern Oklahoma State at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at Wilder Park.  Southwestern Oklahoma State upset St. Edward's in the second game of the day, 3-2.