CANYON, Texas – The #2 Buffaloes of West Texas A&M pounded out 10 runs on 14 hits while Joe Corbett registered another strong start on the mound on Friday afternoon as WT picked up a 10-3 victory in the series opener over the St. Mary's Rattlers.
 
The Buffs and Rattlers continue their weekend series on Saturday afternoon with first pitch of a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m. at Dickson Stadium in San Antonio.
 
THE BASICS:
- Score: #2 West Texas A&M 10, St. Mary's 3
- Records: WT (12-1) / StMU (7-5)
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
- Venue: Dickson Stadium
- Series (Streak): Series tied 2-2 (W1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENENED:
Darius Carter battled thru an eight-pitch at bat to leadoff the second with a walk followed by a Nick Guaragna sac bunt down the first base line to move Carter into scoring position, Justice Nakagawa grounded out to short to move the runner up 90 feet before Keone Givens reached on an error as Carter scored for the 1-0 lead.
 
The Rattlers looked to respond in the home half as a WT error and a bunt single put runners on first and second with no outs, a sac bunt and errant throw scored St. Mary's first run of the game followed by a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Joe Corbett settled back in and forced a pair of popups followed by a big strikeout on a full-count to end the threat and send the teams to the third tied at 1-1.
 
Jaxxon Fagg drew a leadoff walk in the fourth followed by a Rattlers fielding error to put Buffs at first and second with no outs, Nakagawa singled thru the right side with one out to load the bases before Givens came up with a big RBI single to right followed by an errant throw by St. Mary's to make it 3-1. Christian Loya singled up the middle to drive in another run followed by a Clay Koelzer RBI single at 5-1.
 
St. Mary's responded in the home half of the fifth as Donnie Perez lifted a two-run homerun to right center field to score Colton Parrish before Corbett responded with three straight outs to send the teams to the sixth with the Buffs leading 5-3. WT added to their lead in the top of the sixth inning as Tag Baxter singled to left field with two outs to score Kyle Kaufman and make it 6-3, Corbett gave way to Mitchell Miller in the home half of the seventh as the lefty stranded Rattlers on the corners to head to the eight with WT leading 6-3.
 
The Buffs added to their lead in the top of the ninth as Baxter doubled to left to move Koelzer to third with one out, Fagg walked to load the bases followed by a Carter RBI single thru the left side. Guaragna singled to right to drive in another run followed by a Nakagawa RBI hit-by-pitch and a Givens sac fly to center to make it 10-3. The WT bullpen was strong again as Dominic Yearego tossed the eight followed by Todd Danzeisen working the ninth in the victory.
 
Corbett picked up the win (3-0) on the mound for the Buffs, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts in his six innings of work.