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Feb. 18, 2008

Box Score

EDMOND, Okla. - Despite a strong offensive effort in the second game of a double header, the West Texas A&M baseball team fell twice to No. 10 Central Oklahoma at Broncho Field on Monday by the scores of 9-1 and 15-14. The Buffs now stand at 1-5 on the season while UCO set a new program record by starting the season 8-0.

A number of Buff newcomers tallied two RBI as Eric Metts was 2-for-3 with one run, Zach Wleczyk was 3-for-5 with one run, Darby Walker was 4-for-9 with two runs and one RBI on the day. Additionally, junior transfer Kevin Els tallied two RBI on one hit and one walk while senior Ben Edge finished the day 2-for-7 with two runs and two RBI.

WT hosts East Central in its home opening series this week, with games scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All games are slated to begin at 1 p.m., with the second game of Saturday's double header to start followed the conclusion of game one.

Game #1 Recap - Central Oklahoma 9, West Texas A&M 1

UCO's Ryan Shoonover opened the scoring for the Bronchos in the third inning when he hit a lead-off double then touched home on Brent Hodge's single to the right side. Hodge then stole second and advanced to third on an error by Kevin Els, crossing the plate on Dustin Dailey's RBI groundout to short.

The Bronchos scored two more runs in the fourth before the Buffs got on the board in the top of the fifth. Freshman Kelly Starr singled to second base and advanced to second on a fielder's choice by the pitcher; fellow classmate Darby Walker notched the RBI with a single through the right side but designated hitter Greg Shanks was thrown out trying to take third on the hit, ending the inning.

Walker finished game one with two hits and one RBI while Starr was 1-for-3 with one run.

Central Oklahoma went on to score one run in the bottom of the fifth inning, one in the seventh and two in the eighth to stretch its lead and put the game out of reach of the Buffs, who could not string together any more hits.

On the mound, senior Eric Henderson (1-1) took the loss as he allowed six runs - all earned - on eight hits and three walks in 4.2 innings pitched. Sophomore Billy Zeleznak relieved Henderson and allowed three hits and one earned run in 2.1 innings, while redshirt freshman Tyler Lewis finished the game with one earned run and one unearned run in 1.0 innings.

Game #2 Recap - Central Oklahoma 15, West Texas A&M 14

The Bronchos broke out their bats again in game two of the double header as Breck Draper hit a three-run home run in the first inning and two WT errors in the third inning allowed two more runs to score in the third.

Central Oklahoma scored seven runs in the fourth inning to make it 12-0, but the Buffs rallied to get back in the game in the fifth as they hit through the order to bring home six runners on four hits. Senior Ben Edge was the catalyst as he led off the inning with a single to third base. Freshman Eric Metts moved Edge to second with a single to the right side, then both runners advanced on an error by Luke Yost. Senior Kent Wright got on base by a second consecutive error by Yost which scored both Edge and Metts.

Walker singled followed by senior Brian Schupp getting on base by virtue of getting hit by a pitch. Senior Justin Graham singled to left center to score Walker, Schupp advanced to third on a wild pitch then Els tallied an RBI with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Schupp.

UCO pitcher Kyle Head struck out Zach Wleczyk but then walked Starr, Edge and Metts before being replaced; Lance Phillips was able to get Wright out to end the inning and Central Oklahoma answered back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. WT also was able to put another run on the board in the top of the sixth to stay within range of the Bronchos.

West Texas A&M came alive in the top of the seventh inning, scoring seven runs to tie the game at 14-14 as Wleczyk led off with a double, followed by back-to-back-to-back singles from Starr, Edge and Metts--Edge and Metts tallied one RBI apiece with their hits. Wright walked to load the bases and after Walker struck out, Schupp walked with the bases loaded to tally another run for the Buffs.

Graham came up next and put the ball in play to UCO's John Bryant who threw out Metts on a force play at home. Els walked to score Wright, then Wleczyk hit a single to left that scored both Schupp and Graham and allowed him to advance to second on the throw. Els scored the tying run on a wild pitch by Aaron Chong; however, Zak Kinnison was able to catch Starr looking at a third strike to end the inning.

Senior Frankie Rodriguez took to the mound in the bottom of the seventh, but Andrew Foshee started the inning with a single to left field and advanced to second on Schoonover's single to the left side. Hodge walked to load the bases, and Yost atoned for his earlier two errors as he hit a game-winning single to left field to score Foshee and end the game with UCO winning, 15-14.