CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes dropped their Lone Star Conference series finale on Sunday afternoon to split their weekend series with the St. Mary's Rattlers at Wilder Park in Canyon, Texas.
 
The Rattlers got on the board in the top of the second as Ryan Romine singled to right field with two outs to drive in Jake Elizondo followed by a Ryan McGowen RBI single thru the left side to make it 2-0. St. Mary's added to their lead in the top of the third as Clay Bradford connected on a solo homerun to center field with one out for the 3-0 lead.
 
WT cut into the lead in the home half of the fourth inning as Adam Becker drove in Mike Manetta with an RBI fielder's choice groundout to make it 3-1. The Rattlers responded in the fifth as Brandon Broughton lifted a solo shot the other way to right with two outs for the 4-1 lead.
 
The Buffs cut into the lead again in the bottom of the fifth as Glenn Noronha doubled down the left field line with one out followed later in the frame by a passed ball on a strikeout as Noronha raced around to tie it up at 4-4. StMU responded again in the top of the sixth as Jake Mares singled down the right field line to drive in a pair followed by a double steal and a Bradford RBI double for the 8-4 lead.
 
The Rattlers added to their lead in the top of the eighth as Broughton tripled off the center field wall with two outs for the 9-4 lead. Dylan Fesperman cut into the lead in the home half of the ninth with a solo homerun to left center to make it 9-5.
 
Justice Hayes picked up the loss (2-1) for the Buffs, allowing three earned runs on two hits with one walk and no strikeouts in his 1.1 innings of relief. 
 
The Buffs hit the road for Lone Star Conference action next weekend as they head down I-27 for a four-game series with the Lubbock Christian Chaps starting on Friday night with first pitch set for 6:00 p.m. at Hays Field.