CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes sent 13 batters to the plate in the third inning, scoring eight runs on their way to a 15-11 Lone Star Conference victory over the Lubbock Christian Chaps on Thursday afternoon in Canyon.
 
The Buffs jumped out to an early lead in the home half of the opening inning as Jacob Police tripled to left field to score Jake Alwine followed by a Timothy Haynes two-run long ball to left center for the 3-0 lead. LCU got on the board in the top of the second on a Freddy Nolen RBI triple to center and a Roe Forrest double, the Chaps weren't done yet as they plated two more for the 4-3 lead.
 
WT broke the game open in the third inning with eight runs started by RBI base hits from Luis Reyes and Tristin Thomas, the inning continued with a Haynes two-run single as a pair of LCU errors made the score 11-4. The teams would trade runs in the fourth as a Brock Bunker RBI ground-rule double made it 12-5.
 
Lubbock would cut into the lead with runs in the fifth and sixth before WT added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth on a wild pitch that scored Jonluke Hobdy at 13-7. The Chaps cut into the lead again in the seventh on RBI base hits by Kyle Lewis and Aaron Morales to make it 13-9.
 
The Buffs added insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh on a Bunker RBI single to center with two outs followed by a wild pitch to score Bunker for the 15-9 advantage. LCU used the long ball to cut into the lead in the top of the eighth on an Owel Alsup solo shot to left field. Lubbock pushed across another run in the ninth on a Tanner Pachorek RBI groundout at 15-11.
 
Bryan Raitz claimed the win (4-1) for the Buffs, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits with two walks and five strikeouts in his 5.1 frames of work. Riley Kettner earned his first save, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts over the last 3.2 innings.
 
The Buffs and Chaps return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon with first pitch of a doubleheader set for2 :00 p.m.