CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes picked up a huge Lone Star Conference victory to start the weekend series in San Antonio on Friday night, overpowering the #14 St. Mary's Rattlers 14-9 at Dickson Stadium.
 
The Buffs jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning, Jacob Police lifted a sac fly to left field as Anthony Picciano tagged up to score followed by a Luis Reyes RBI single to right center that plated Timothy Haynes for the 2-0 lead.
 
Will Franklin added to the WT lead in the top of the second inning with a leadoff solo homerun to left field at 3-0. St. Mary's got on the board in the bottom of the frame with a single to left by Matt Gauna with two outs followed by a WT defensive miscue at 3-2.
 
WT responded in the top of the third as Reyes singled to right with one out to score Jake Alwine, Franklin would drive in Haynes later in the inning followed by Tristin Thomas two-run single for the 7-2 lead. The Rattlers used the long ball to cut into the lead in the bottom of the inning on a Dillon Lopez solo shot to right followed in the fourth by a Gauna solo shot to center and a Lopez two-run homer to right at 7-6.
 
The Buffs used the long ball to extend their lead in the top of the fifth inning as Daniel Castellanos crushed a two-run shot to left center for the 9-6 lead. WT added insurance runs in the sixth on a Police RBI triple to right center followed later in the inning by a Castellanos RBI single to force a StMU pitching change. Franklin welcomed the new pitcher with a two-run single followed by a wild pitch to score Castellanos for the 14-6 lead.
 
St. Mary's cut into the lead in the home half of the eighth as they pushed across three runs highlighted by a pair of sac flies to make it 14-9.
 
Bryan Raitz claimed the win (3-1) during his first start of the season, allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits with no walks and two strikeouts in his six innings of work.
 
The Buffs and Rattlers return to the field tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m.