CANYON, Texas – The Buffaloes of West Texas A&M battled back from and early three-run deficit on Friday afternoon to pick up a big Lone Star Conference victory over the #15 St. Edward's Hilltoppers in an 11-inning thriller at Lucian-Hamilton Field in Austin, Texas.
 
The Hilltoppers did damage in the home half of the first inning with two outs with three straight base hits to drive in runs by Davis Drewek, Josh Graham and Conner Cox for the 3-0 lead. The Buffs responded in the top of the fourth inning as Eddy Savoie lifted a three-run homerun down the left field line to tie it up at 3-3.
 
St. Edward's retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth Carlo Figueroa drew an RBI walk with the bases loaded and one out before Brennan Berdon locked in and forced a double-play ball to end the frame with the Toppers leading 4-3.
 
The Buffs threatened in the top of the eighth as they loaded the bases with one out to force a move to the SEU bullpen, Kory Schmidt tied up the game with an RBI fielder's choice groundout followed by a walk to load the bases again before a strikeout ended the frame at 4-4.
 
WT looked to take their first lead of the game in the top of the ninth as an Adam Becker walk with one out loaded the bases and force another SEU pitching change, Austin Essex entered and forced a shallow flyout followed by a strikeout to strand the bases loaded.
 
The Buffs took their first lead of the game in the top of the 11^th as Ryan Johnson doubled to left field with one out to plate Kix Ferrel. That's all the need that Tyler Cornett would need as the senior picked up his third save of the season for the 5-4 win.
 
Gavin Pringle picked up the win (3-0) on the mound for the Buffs, allowing no runs on one hit with no walks and four strikeouts in his 4.0 scoreless innings of relief. 
 
The Buffs and Hilltoppers continue their series tomorrow afternoon with first pitch of a doubleheader set for 12 p.m. in Austin.