TYLER, Texas – The #17 Buffaloes of West Texas A&M overcame an early two-run deficit on Saturday night as Zach Dixon settled in and registered one of his best performances of the season to tie up the Lone Star Conference series with the #11 UT Tyler Patriots at Irwin Field.
 
The Patriots got on the board in the home half of the first inning as Kyle McShaffry doubled down the left field line with one out to score Jordan Gochenour followed by a Edward Ortiz double to left field that plated McShaffry and made it 2-0.
 
WT tied up the game in the top of the fourth inning as they took advantage of walks to Jonah Gonzales and Keone Givens followed by a double steal and an Ryan Johnson two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2, Johnson would move into scoring position on a wild pitch followed by a Kennedy Badgett RBI single thru the left side to force a call to the UTT bullpen. WT wasn't done yet as Kyle Moos singled to right to score Badgett at 4-2.
 
The top of the WT order looked to extend the lead in the fifth as Cade Engle led off the frame with a single to right followed by a stolen base from the senior, Gonzales drew a walk followed by a sacrifice bunt from Givens to move both runners into scoring position but the Patriots would respond with a big pair of outs to end the threat and keep it 4-2.
 
The Buffs used the long ball to add to their lead in the sixth as Badgett started off the frame with a solo shot to left center for the 5-2 lead. WT added to their lead in the seventh as Eric Ortiz doubled down the left field line to plate Gonzales and Givens followed by a Johnson RBI single to left field to make it 8-2. UTT took advantage of a Buffalo error with two outs in the eighth to cut the lead to 8-3.
 
UTT wouldn't go down without a fight in the ninth as they took advantage of another WT error to put runners on first and second with one out as Justin Zamora entered from the bullpen, the junior forced a flyout to Engle in right followed by a strikeout to end the game at 8-3.
 
Zach Dixon picked up the win (2-1) on the mound for the Buffs as the senior allowed two earned runs on three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in his seven complete innings with the lefty retiring 11 straight Patriots at one point.
 
The Buffs and Patriots conclude their weekend Lone Star Conference series on Sunday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Irwin Field.