CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M Buffaloes dropped the opening game of the 2026 Lone Star Conference Championships on Saturday afternoon as they fell to the #23 St. Mary's Rattlers, 12-4 at Dickson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas.
The Rattler struck first in the bottom of the third inning at Matt Gauna doubled to the wall in center field with one out to score Rob Gonzalez at 1-0.
St. Mary's added to their lead in the home half of the fifth inning on a Gonzalez RBI double down the right field line followed by a Jacob King RBI single to center, StMU wasn't done yet as Matt Mendez lifted a sac fly to center followed by a Ashton Beaird RBI double for the 5-0 lead.
The Buffs got on the board in the top of the sixth inning as
Jonluke Hobdy doubled off the left field wall to score
Anthony Picciano followed by a
Jake Alwine sac fly to center. WT took advantage of a Rattler defensive mistake as
Jacob Police scored from third followed by a
Zac Rackham RBI single to make it 5-4.
The Rattlers added to their lead in the home half of the sixth as Gauna singled thru the right side to score Gonzalez followed by a Mendez squeeze bunt to plate King, Beaird kept the inning alive with a two-run single down the right field line with the bases loaded followed by a Garrett Brooks RBI groundout at 10-4.
St. Mary's added to their lead in the home half of the seventh as Ethan Hughes lined a pinch-hit single to center field with one out to score two for the 12-4 lead.
Cade Griffin claimed the loss (8-5) for the Buffs, allowing four earned runs on eight hits with one walk and three strikeouts in his 4.1 innings of work.
The Buffs and Rattlers return to the field tomorrow afternoon with first pitch of game two scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
