CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes battled back from an 11-run deficit on Friday afternoon before falling to the Texas A&M International Dustdevils, 13-11 in Lone Star Conference action at Wilder Park in Canyon, Texas.
 
The Dustdevils got on the board in the top of the first inning with an Eddie Saenz solo homerun to center field followed by a Fabrizio Salinas two-run triple to right and a Derek Garcia RBI single up the middle for the 4-0 lead. TAMIU added to their lead in the fourth with a Jesus Sosa two-run blast to center followed by an RBI groundout from Iann Cobos for the 7-0 advantage.
 
WT finally pushed across their first run in the home half of the fourth on a Tristin Thomas walk with the bases loaded and no outs to score Jake Alwine but the Buffs would strand the bases loaded to keep it 7-1. 
 
The Dustdevils scored again in the top of the fifth as Sosa doubled to the gap in right center to drive in a pair for the 9-1 lead. TAMIU added to their lead in the top of the sixth inning with a Garcia bases-clearing triple off the center field wall with two outs for the 12-1 advantage. 
 
WT cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Thomas led off the frame with a solo shot to right field followed later in the frame by a Zac Rackham RBI walk with the bases loaded, Brock Bunker would single off the wall in right center to score two followed by a Jacob Police RBI groundout. WT wasn't done yet as Timothy Haynes doubled to left to score Bunker followed by a Thomas RBI triple and a Jonluke Hobdy single to make it 12-9.
 
Jake Alwine made things interesting in the home half of the seventh inning with a solo homerun to right field to cut the lead to 12-10. The Buffs wouldn't go down without a fight as Rackham doubled off the right field wall with two outs in the eighth to score Hobdy at 12-11. The Dustdevils added a big insurance run in the top of the ninth on a Ciro Benivides double to right center for the 13-11 lead.
 
Bryan Raitz claimed the loss (4-3) for the Lady Buffs, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on 13 hits with one walk and three strikeouts in his 5.0 innings of work.
 
The Buffs and Dustdevils return to the diamond on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader set for 2:00 p.m.