CANYON, Texas – The #23 Buffaloes of West Texas A&M split a Lone Star Conference doubleheader with the UT Permian Basin Falcons on Saturday afternoon at Wilder Park in Canyon, Texas. The Buffs took the first game 8-6 before falling in the nightcap 14-1.
 
The two teams close out the weekend series tomorrow afternoon with first pitch of the finale set for 1:00 p.m. in Canyon.
 
GAME ONE
The Falcons jumped out to an early lead as Kaleb Scull started off the game with a solo homerun to left center for the 1-0 lead. WT would answer in the bottom of the frame on a Kyle Micklus RBI double down the right field line followed by a UTPB error, the Buffs weren't done yet as Josh Zapata was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded followed by an Elijah Batista RBI groundout and a Rodric Black RBI double for the 5-1 lead.
 
UTPB cut into the lead in the top of the second inning as Andrew Prado grounded out to first base with one out to score Wiki DeLeon followed by a Scull RBI single up the middle to make it 5-3. The Falcons would respond again in the top of the third inning with an RBI groundout back to the mound followed by a DeLeon RBI double down the left field line to make it 5-5, Jose Salcedo singled to right to score DeLeon for the 6-5 lead.
 
The Buffs tied up the game in the home half of the fourth inning as Dylan Fesperman stayed hot at the plate with an RBI single to right that scored Jovan Camacho at 6-6. WT would retake the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning on a Micklus RBI double down the right field line to score J. Camacho followed later in the frame by a Fesperman sac fly to center to make it 8-6.
 
Tai Phetluangsy picked up the win (2-1) for the Buffs, allowing no runs on just three hits with two walks and four strikeouts in his 4.2 innings of relief.
 
GAME TWO
The beginning of the nightcap was a pitcher's duel thru the first four frames before the Falcons jumped out to a lead in the top of the fifth on a Salcedo RBI double to the gap in left center that cleared the bases followed by a Scull RBI double to left center for the 4-0 lead.
 
The Buffs got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Micklus RBI fielder's choice grountout to cut the lead to 4-1. UTPB responded in the top of the sixth on a Carson Johnston leadoff homerun to left center followed later in the frame by a Salcedo two-run double to left field and a DeSoto RBI groundout for the 8-1 lead.
 
The Falcons extended their lead in the top of the seventh inning on a Wiki DeLeon grand slam to right center followed later by a pair of wild pitches that plated two more to make it 14-1. 
 
Chase Weaver picked up the loss (1-1) on the mound, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits with no walks and a strikeout in his 5.0 innings of work.