Box Score
Season Stats
PORTALES, N.M. – The No. 20 West Texas A&M baseball team overcame an early 3-0 deficit for a 10-7 victory in the series opener Thursday evening at Eastern New Mexico. With the win, WT improved to 20-7 on the year and 9-4 in Lone Star Conference play, while ENMU fell to 9-18 and 2-11 in league play.
The Buffs and Greyhounds continue the four game series Friday at 7 p.m. CT followed by a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. Live stats and streaming links are on the baseball schedule page at
www.gobuffsgo.com.
ENMU plated three runs in the bottom of the first as a leadoff double, followed by an infield single and a two RBI double down the left field line for a 2-0 advantage. From there, Dylan Nault singled home the third run to center field for a 3-0 lead.
The Buffs began the top of the second with a pair of singles from junior
John Baiada and senior
Nick Chapman of ENMU starter Nick DeArmond. DeArmond got a strikeout and then a strikeout swinging and Baiada was out at third with a throw from the catcher to end the inning.
Redshirt freshman
Christian Loya began the top of the third with a solo home run for his team and LSC-leading sixth round-tripper of the year for a 3-1 score. A double from senior
Mason Shiflett put the Buffs in scoring position and he scored on a wild pitch for a 3-2 deficit. Baiada tied the game, following a senior
Trace Hansen walk, with a triple to center for a 3-3 score.
In the top of the fourth, the Buffs loaded the bases with two out as Loya hit an infield single, junior
Roberto Carrasco was plunked by a pitch and Shfilett also was hit by a pitch. A three, RBI triple from Shiflett put the Buffs up 6-3 on a 2-2 count. Hansen, who stole second after a walk, advanced to third as Shiflett scored on a wild pitch for a 7-3 lead.
ENMU plated a run courtesy of the second error of the game by the Buffs on a double by Keenan Dodd for a 7-4 score.
WT added a run in the fifth as junior
Troy LaBrie earned a walk and then a Loya single to right, followed by a Carrasco walk loaded the bases. Shiflett hit an infield single for an 8-3 lead as the Buffs were unable to bring anyone else home leaving the bags full and six left on to that point in the game.
In the bottom of the frame ENMU earned a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt put a man at second, followed by a fielder's choice and a single for two on with two out. Nault hit a RBI single to left on a 1-2 count for an 8-5 WT lead. WT junior starter
Justin McAllister got out of the jam with a strikeout.
A Dodd double down the left field line began the bottom of the sixth and the third error of the game for the Buffs plated a run as Mike McNicholl reached on the miscue as Dodd scored for an 8-6 WT lead. Zach Shank drew a walk for runners at the corners. Junior Tommy Garland relieved McAllister. Garland got out of the jam with a strikeout leaving two stranded.
McAllister went 5.2 innings, allowing nine hits, six runs – five earned, walked two and fanned three In 117 pitches. Loya hit a RBI ground out to short in the top of the seventh for a 9-6 lead. A two out single and the fourth Buff miscue put ENMU in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh, but Garland got Dodd to strikeout swinging to end the threat.
In the ninth, Shiflett doubled home a run for a 10-6 lead and, in the bottom of the frame, ENMU put runners at second and third converting one run, but falling 10-7.
WT tallied 10 runs on 12 hits with four errors, while ENMU had seven runs on 12 hits. McAllister (3-1) took the win, while DeArmond (0-3) earned the loss going four innings, allowing seven hits, seven earned runs, two walks and he fanned three. Garland earned his first save as a Buff pitching the final 3.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, walked one and fanned four.
For the game, Shiflett was 3 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBI highlighted by two doubles, while Baiada went 3 for 5 with a RBI. Senior
Matt Cole went 1 for 5 with a run scored and three RBI. ENMU was led by Nault who was 3 for 4 with two RBI.
