April 1, 2008

Box Score

CANYON, Texas - The West Texas A&M baseball team dropped a back-and-forth contest Wayland Baptist Tuesday, 9-8, at Wilder Field. The win gave WBU the season sweep, after defeating the Buffs 19-6 on March 25 at Conner Park.

Gary Gates (10-1) picked up the win for the Pioneers while Billy Zeleznak (2-4) took the loss for the Buffs, who fall to 6-29 on the season.

WT got the scoring started in the top half of the second with four runs on three hits. Greg Shanks drove in Will McLaughlin on a line drive down the first base line, followed by a sacrafice fly by Jake Parsons that scored Ben Edge. After a throwing error by the Pioneers, Darby Walker singled home Shanks and pinch runner Eric Metts. The Buffs added to their lead in the third with a leadoff double by Schupp who would later score on a McLaughlin double down the left field line.

Wayland inched back with one run in the third, and took the lead at 6-5 after a Keith Martin double that scored two in the bottom of the fourth. The Buffs answered with two runs in the top half of the seventh, Parson led off the inning with a home run to right center, followed by base hits by Walker and Justin Graham. A one out single to center by Eric Lensing scored Walker, putting WT in front 7-6.

The Pioneers took the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh with three runs on two hits and two Buffalo errors. A West Texas A&M rally fell short in the ninth, with Schupp doubling to right center and Graham scoring on a Lensing groundout, followed by two outs to finish the game.

WT returns to action this weekend as it hosts LSC rival Cameron for a four game series beginning Friday at 1:00 p.m.