CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M started off the postseason in style on Friday night as they jumped out to an early first inning lead and never looked back in an 8-4 victory over the seventh seeded Oklahoma Christian Eagles at Wilder Park in Canyon during the opening game of the LSC Championship.
 
The Eagles jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning as Michael DiFiore drove in Cole Lee on an RBI fielder's choice groundout for the 1-0 advantage. WT tied up the game in the home half of the frame as Adam Becker drew a bases loaded walk with one out to score Eddy Savoie and make it 1-1. The run also tied West Texas A&M's single-season RBI record as Becker drove in his 75^th run of the season to tie former All-American and recent Hall of Champion inductee Tim Dubrule (1997).
 
WT wasn't done yet as Wil Fuenning doubled to the gap in left center to plate a pair followed by an Eric Ortiz sac fly to deep left field to make it 4-1. The Buffs added to their lead in the home half of the fifth as Izaiah Madrid lifted a two-run homerun just inside of the left field foul pole with one out followed later in the frame by an errant OC throw to extend the lead to 7-1.
 
The Buffs extended their lead in the sixth with a Kennedy Badgett solo homerun to left center to start off the frame for the 8-1 lead. The Eagles cut into the lead in the top of the eighth inning as Matthew Connerly singled thru the right side with two outs to drive in Grant Lake followed by a Cole Lee RBI double to right field to make it 8-3. OC wouldn't go down without a fight as they took advantage of a WT error with two outs, Grant Lake singled up the middle to drive in Michael DiFiore before a fielder's choice ended the game at 8-4.
 
Nick Marshall picked up the win (10-3) on the mound for the Buffs, allowing two earned runs on five hits with six walks and four strikeouts in his 7.0 innings of work.