CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M junior right hander Marshall Kasowski struck out 14 and allowed just one hit while the WT offense pounded out 13 hits including three homeruns as the Buffs rolled past Northwestern Oklahoma State, 15-0 in seven innings on Thursday night at Wilder Park in Canyon. The Buffs improve to 4-0 on the season while the Rangers fall to 2-3.
 
Marshall Kasowski was as good as advertised in the first as the University of Houston transfer forced a popup in foul territory to Luis Amaro then fanned the next two Rangers for a three-up/three-down inning to send the Buffs to the plate. Bodie Bryan singled up the middle to start the home half of the frame before the junior stole second three pitches later, Jimmy Cubillos walked followed by a double steal to move both runners into scoring position before Luis Amaro and Troy LaBrie singled home runs for the early 2-0 lead.
 
Kasowski ran his strikeout total to three to start the second before a walk and bunt single put Rangers on first and second with one out, the Conroe native battled back from a 3-0 count to register another strikeout followed by a full-count popup to Aaron Vallance at short to end the inning with WT leading 2-0.
 
Nick Canas started the bottom of the second with a single thru the right side and the junior stole second base on the next pitch to move into scoring position followed by a Vallance bunt single to third, WT plated another run on a passed ball followed by a Bryan walk to put runners on first and second with no outs. Cubillos reached on a bunt single to load the bases followed by a strikeout before Amaro drove in two more runs with a single to left center followed by a LaBrie three run bomb off the scoreboard in left for the 8-0 lead to knock the Rangers' starter from the game.
 
Canas led off the home half of the third with a walk followed by a passed ball and a walk to Vallance with no outs headed to the top of the order, NWOSU forced a popup in foul territory followed by a Cubillos RBI single thru the left side and an Adam Adkins walk to load the bases again. The Buffs used the long ball to add to their lead in the home half of the fourth as Christian Loya and Canas connected on solo bombs to stretch the lead to 14-0.
 
The Buffs loaded the bases with one out in the home half of the fifth followed by a Canas RBI walk to force another move to the Ranger bullpen as the Buffs took a 15-0 lead. Kasowski fanned two more Rangers to run his game total to 14 as the junior moved to 2-0 on the season, giving up no runs on one hit with two walks in the complete game shutout.
 
UP NEXT
The Buffs continue their home opening series tomorrow night as they take on the Rangers with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. at Wilder Park in Canyon. WT's probable starter on the mound will be Joshua Payne, the senior right hander will be making his first start of the season.