All-Tournament Bufffs
15
Winner Tarleton State TSU 35-15
7
West Texas A&M WT 39-12
Winner
Tarleton State TSU
35-15
15
Final
7
West Texas A&M WT
39-12
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Tarleton State TSU 0 10 0 3 1 0 0 0 1 15 16 1
West Texas A&M WT 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 7 10 2

W: Nathan Hickey (10-2) L: Cook, Darin (9-3)

Next Game:

Tarleton State

5/17/2018 | 7 p.m.

Next Game

Full Schedule
May. 17 (Thu) / 7 p.m.
 Tarleton State

Game Recap: Baseball |

No. 5 Buffs Fall in Lone Star Conference Championship Game

THE BASICS:
 
  • Score: Tarleton State 15, #5 West Texas A&M 7
 
  • Records: West Texas A&M 39-12, Tarleton State 35-15
 
  • Location: Canyon, Texas (Wilder Park)
 
  • The Lead: The No. 5 West Texas A&M baseball team fell 15-7 in the 2018 Lone Star Conference Championship game to Tarleton State Saturday afternoon at Wilder Park.  Tarleton State scored ten runs in the second inning and hit seven home runs in the game for the win and the LSC's automatic berth in the NCAA South Central Regional next week.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
  • On a 3-2 count with two out in the top of the first with a man on second, WT junior pitcher Darin Cook fanned his second Texan of the game for the third out sending the game to the bottom of the first.
  • A one out single from senior Jimmy Cubillos and a pair of walks loaded the bases for the Buffs in the bottom of the first.
  • A throwing error by the Texans down to third base went into left field as the Buffs plated two runs for a 2-0 lead.
  • Jared McCarver began the top of the second with a home run to right for a 2-1 score, followed by a double from Francisco Rodriguez and a two run home run from Jake Hasbrouck for a 3-2 Texan lead.An error and a walk loaded the bases for the Texans as Ruben Rodriguez hit a bases clearing triple for a 6-2 lead, followed by a double from Luke Morton for a 7-2 lead.
  • McCarver then hit his second home run of the inning for a 9-2 lead chasing Cook from the game.A two out single from Hunter Hudson plated the tenth run of the inning and a walk loaded the bases once again as WT went to the bullpen for the second time in the inning in favor of junior Drew Mesecher replacing junior Braden Baker.Mesecher got a ground out to get out of the inning.
  • The Buffs had a double from junior Justice Nakagawa in the second, but left a man at third for the second-straight inning.WT again had men on in the third, but were unable to cut into the deficit, stranding two more.
  • Back-to-back home runs from the Texans in the top of the fourth gave TSU a 12-2 lead and the fourth and fifth round-trippers of the game.Blake Adams then hit a solo home run for a 13-2 lead and the Texans added a run in the fifth for a 14-2 lead.
  • Nathan Hickey relieved starter Evan Pontley for the fifth inning and the Buffs put runners at the corners with two out, but again were unable to cut into the deficit.
  • A double and a safe call on an attempted fielder's choice, followed by a three run home run from Nakagawa made the score 14-5 in the bottom of the eighth.It marked the first runs of the game for the Buffs since the first inning.
  • Following the round-tripper, the Buffs loaded the bases and, on a 3-1 count, Baxter doubled home two runs for a 14-7 score.
  • Hasbrouck hit his third home run, with two out, in the top of the ninth for a 15-7 score.
 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
  • Tarleton State won its first Lone Star Conference Tournament championship since 2014 and second in program history.
  • WT's shot a three-straight tournament titles came up short, but the Buffs now stand at 11-15 all-time in the Lone Star Conference Tournament and 11-10 under head coach Matt Vanderburg.
  • The Texans scored 15 runs on 16 hits with one error, while WT had seven runs on 10 hits with two errors.
  • Three different Texans each tallied three hits, while Hasbrouck went 3 for 6 with three runs scored and four RBI, including three home runs.Rodriguez was 3 for 5 with three runs scored, while McCarver was 3 for 6 with two runs scored and three RBI.
  • Hickey picked up the win in relief of Pontley as he went three scoreless innings, allowing three hits and walking one.
  • The Buffs' bats started to come alive late, but it wasn't enough as Nakagawa went 3 for 3 with three RBI and a run scored as he hit 1.000 for the tournament earning all-tournament honors, along with Cubillos, junior Joe Corbett and Baxter.
  • Cook (9-3) took the loss, going 1.1 innings, allowing eight hits, nine runs – eight earned, walked one and fanned two.
  • Tarleton State had six named to the all-tournament team, including LSC Tournament MVP Blake Adams.
 
 
UP NEXT:
 
  • The Buffs will await an at-large bid to the NCAA South Central Regional, and whether they will host the regional next week for the first time in program history.
  • With a bid to the regional, WT would make its fifth-straight appearance in the regional.
  • The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for 9 p.m. CT Sunday evening on NCAA.com.
  • Check back with www.gobuffsgo.com for the link to the Selection Show and the announcement of where and when the Buffs play following the show.
 
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
  • For the latest on WT Athletics, follow the Buffs/Lady Buffs via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.  Also check back with www.gobuffsgo.com for the latest information on news, statistics, tickets and more on all of West Texas A&M athletics.
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Players Mentioned

Braden Baker

#6 Braden Baker

RHP/INF
5' 9"
Junior
Jimmy Cubillos

#1 Jimmy Cubillos

OF
5' 9"
Senior
Darin Cook

#20 Darin Cook

RHP
5' 10"
Junior
Joe Corbett

#10 Joe Corbett

RHP
6' 5"
Junior
Drew Mesecher

#22 Drew Mesecher

RHP
6' 3"
Junior
Justice Nakagawa

#5 Justice Nakagawa

INF
6' 0"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Braden Baker

#6 Braden Baker

5' 9"
Junior
RHP/INF
Jimmy Cubillos

#1 Jimmy Cubillos

5' 9"
Senior
OF
Darin Cook

#20 Darin Cook

5' 10"
Junior
RHP
Joe Corbett

#10 Joe Corbett

6' 5"
Junior
RHP
Drew Mesecher

#22 Drew Mesecher

6' 3"
Junior
RHP
Justice Nakagawa

#5 Justice Nakagawa

6' 0"
Junior
INF