ODESSA, Texas – The #8 Buffaloes of West Texas A&M used a dominant pitching performance on Friday afternoon to take the series opener at Roden Field as they allowed just four hits with 14 strikeouts in a 2-0 victory over the UT Permian Basin Falcons.
 
The Buffs and Falcons continue their weekend series tomorrow afternoon with a pair of seven inning contests with the first pitch of a doubleheader scheduled for 12 p.m. at Roden Field. The start of the doubleheader was moved up an hour to allow more daylight.
 
THE BASICS:
- Score: #8 West Texas A&M 2, UT Permian Basin 0
- Records: WT (14-3) / UTPB (5-6)
- Location: Odessa, Texas
- Venue: Roden Field
- Series (Streak): Buffs lead 9-0 (W9)
 
HOW IT HAPPENENED:
The Buffs got on the board in the top of the second inning as Justin Martinez doubled to left field with two outs to drive in Tag Baxter for the 1-0 lead. The Falcons looked to respond in the home half of the third inning as they drew a two-out walk before Darin Cook forced a double play ball to the hot corner as the Buffs got out of the inning with no damage done.
 
WT looked to add to their lead in the fourth as Nick Guaragna was hit by a pitch with one down, the senior stole second followed by a Justice Nakagawa walk to turn the lineup over. Keone Givens layed down a bunt single down the third base line to load the bases but WT would ground into a double play of their own to end the threat.
 
Martinez singled to center field to leadoff the sixth followed two batters later by a Nakagawa RBI double to left field to make it 2-0, Braden Baker was dominant out of the bullpen for the Buffs as the senior from Canyon allowed just two hits in his three innings of relief with no walks and six strikeouts.
 
Cook picked up the win (3-0) on the mound for the Buffs, allowing no runs on just two hits with five walks and six strikeouts in his five innings of work. Dominic Yearego capped off the afternoon with the senior's 17^thcareer save, facing the minimum and striking out a pair in the final frame.