Box Score

Season Stats

CANYON, Texas  – The West Texas A&M baseball team scored six runs over the final three innings en route to an 8-3 upset victory Saturday afternoon.  With the win, WT improved to 2-0 on the year, while St. Edward's fell to 2-3. 
 
WT banged out eight runs on 16 hits, while SEU had three runs on six hits with an error.  Senior Matt Cole led the way for the Buffs going 3 for 4 with three RBI and a run scored highlighted by a solo home in the first inning.  Junior Hunter Henderson also had three hits going 3 for 4.  Senior Trace Hansen was 2 for 5 with two RBI and two runs scored.  Senior transfer Austin Moore went six innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs, three walks and he fanned eight in his first start in a Buff uniform earning the no decision.  Senior Kyle Tinius (1-0) picks up the win in relief, going three innings, allowing one hit and fanning two. 
 
St. Edward's was led by a 3 for 4 day from J.D. Arrowood as he had a pair of doubles and two RBI with a run scored.  Cam Hatch (0-1) took the loss in relief of starter Eric Hester.  Hatch went three innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs while walking one and fanning five.
 
Moore needed just six pitches with a strikeout in the first inning setting the Hilltoppers down in order.  Moore transferred to WT this season from University of Houston and Lamar Community College.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Cole took a 3-1 fastball to right field for a home run and a 1-0 lead with one away.  A single by senior Nick Chapman followed, but the Buffs grounded into a double play to end the threat.  The home run was the first SEU had allowed in five games this season and the second hit by the Buffs in as many games.
 
Arrowood began the top of the third with a double off the left field wall for the Hilltoppers as Moore retired six-straight.  Arrowood moved to third on a passed ball.  Ryan McPhail tallied his first hit of the season, a RBI triple to left center tying the game at one. 
 
Junior Roberto Carrasco reached on a two base error and later scored on a Cole single to center as the Buffs regained the lead in the bottom of the third, 2-1.
 
SEU put two on with nobody out in the top of the fourth and then loaded the bases for Arrowood.  Arrowood plated two runs with a single through the right side as SEU took the lead at 3-2.  A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third.  Moore got his fifth strikeout of the game for the second out and then got McPhail to look at strike three for the final out.
 
Back-to-back singles began the bottom of the fourth for the Buffs.  Following a mound meeting by the Hilltoppers, a deep fly to right moved senior Josh Day to third with runners at the corners with one out.  SEU made a move to the bullpen as Cam Hatch relieved starter Eric Hester.  Hatch fanned his first batter and got a pop out to short end the threat.  Hester went 3.1 innings, allowing six hits, two runs – one earned facing 15 batters and 50 pitches.
 
The Buffs put runners at the corners in the bottom of the sixth with one out and a dribbler to third brought the throw home as the catcher for SEU appeared to drop the ball before tagging Chapman, but the home plate umpire called him out.  Hatch came back with a strikeout to end the threat leaving the fourth and fifth runners stranded for the Buffs.
 
WT made a call to the bullpen Tinius replaced Moore.  Moore went six innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs, with three walks and eight strikeouts.
 
Senior Mason Shiflett hit a single through the left side for his first hit of the season and one on with one out in the bottom of the seventh.  Senior Trace Hansen doubled down the left field line for two on in scoring position with one away.  Cole again came up with the big hit as he singled through the left side tying the game at three.  Chapman singled to center for a RBI and a 4-3 WT lead.  St. Edward's mad a call to the bullpen in favor of Vinny Whitenight with first and second and one out.  Whitenight got a strikeout and got a groundout to first to end the frame. 
 
Senior Jace Reese began the bottom of the eight with a double down the left field line.  Junior John Baiada laid down a great bunt putting runners at the corners with nobody out.  Carrasco doubled off the wall in center for a 5-3 lead.  A huge two run double by Hansen gave WT a 7-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth.  Day doubled to left for an 8-3 lead through eighth innings.
 
Tinius and the Buffs shutdown the Hilltoppers in the ninth for the win as WT now has won two-straight against St. Edward's after losing the first eight in the series.  WT won 5-0 in the NCAA Tournament last season in Grand Junction, Colo. 
 
The Buffs close out the weekend Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at Wilder Park against Southwestern Oklahoma State (1-1).