STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Behind a career game for West Texas A&M senior Chad Brown and senior pitcher Justin McAllister, the Buffs posted a 10-4 win at No. 15 Tarleton State Saturday afternoon to take a 2-1 series lead heading into tomorrow's finale. 

Brown went a career-best 4 for 5 from the plate with a home run and a double along with a career-high five RBI as the Buffs banged out nine hits in the game.  Junior Nick Canas went two for four with two RBI and a double.  WT improved to 11-2 on the year as the finale set for Sunday at 1 p.m.  Fans can access live stats for Sunday's game on the baseball schedule page on www.gobuffsgo.com. 

It was Brown's fourth multi-hit game of the season and the four hits were the most of his career as he previous best was two hits three times this season. 

The Buffs wasted little time taking the early lead as junior Luis Amaro doubled to left field to drive in junior Jimmy Cubillos with one out, followed by a walk to senior Troy LaBrie. Brown belted a three-run blast to left for the early 4-0 lead, for his first home run in a WT uniform – all in the first inning.  Junior starter Noah Draper came out and struck out the side in the home half of the frame.

An error proved costly for the Texans (11-4) in the second as junior Jimmy Cubillos reached on the miscue after a leadoff walk to junior Nelson Parades.  Canas singled to center for a 5-0 lead and junior Adam Adkins singled through the left side for a RBI and a 6-0 advantage. 

Tarleton State got a leadoff single and a walk to begin the bottom of the second.  Following the fourth and fifth strikeouts by Draper, Ben Mauseth doubled home a run for a 6-1 WT lead.  Draper fanned his sixth of the game to get out of the jam, leaving runners in scoring position.

Draper got the first out of the third, but a pair of walks followed as Tarleton State's Austin Call singled to left for a 6-2 score.  With runners at the corners and two out, WT made a call to the bullpen as McAllister replaced Draper.  McAllister got a fly out to left field to end the inning. 

Cubillos singled through the right side in the fourth with one out and Canas doubled home a run for a 7-2 lead. 

In the sixth, an error proved costly for the Buffs as Dylan Lemons reached on the miscue and an infield single moved him to second.  The second error plated the third run for the Texans and a fielder's choice plated the fourth.  TSU had the bases loaded with two away following a catcher's interference call.  McAllister fanned Jake Hasbrouck to end the inning as the Texans left the bags full.

WT added to its lead in the final frame with three runs and the second error on Tarleton State.  Three free passes with one out got the bases loaded for WT for Brown who doubled home two runs and the error scored the third run for a 10-4 lead. 

McAllister retired the Texans in order in the ninth for the win.  McAllister relieved Draper, going 6.1 innings, allowing four hits, two unearned runs, with no walks and he fanned seven for his first win of the season.  Draper went 2.2 innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, walked three and fanned six. 

Tarleton State had four runs on seven hits with three costly errors leading to two unearned runs as the Texans used six pitchers in the game.  Fowler (1-1) took the loss in two innings, allowing four hits, six runs – five earned, walked three and fanned two. 

Offensively, TSU, led by Austin Call, who went three for five, with a run scored and on RBI.  Mauseth went two for four with a run scored and a one RBI.