| gobuffsgo.com |
|
West Texas A&M Baseball Scores Early and Often to Beat East Central
Feb. 22, 2008
CANYON, Texas - Six West Texas A&M runners crossed home plate in the first inning as the Buffs beat East Central, 13-12, in their first game at home this season with the help of solo home runs from seniors Brian Schupp and Ben Edge and junior Kevin Els. Schupp was 3-for-5 at the plate with three RBI and two runs, while Els and Edge each went 1-for-4 with one run. Edge also tallied two RBI--in addition to his long ball, he grounded out to short in the first inning to score freshman Zach Wleczyk. The win pushes WT's overall record to 2-5 with a 1-3 conference ledger, while East Central falls to 1-4 in league play and 4-9 on the season. ECU's lead-off batter Lucas Armenta put WT behind early when he hit a solo home run over the right field fence, but the Buffs answered back with six runs of their own. The Buffs also benefitted from one passed ball, one wild pitch and senior Justin Graham getting on base by virtue of being hit by a pitch. Wes Hager relieved Tiger starting pitcher Dusty Rowland after a third of an inning pitched and was able to get out of the inning without allowing any more WT runs. East Central had a prolific third inning when Armenta doubled, Gillum walked and Rowland - who became the designated hitter after being replaced on the mound - singled, followed by a grand slam to right field by Zach Hammons that pulled the Tigers within two runs of the Buffs at 7-5. However, Buff starter Billy Zeleznak was able to recollect and close out the side. The Buffs lengthened their lead in the fifth inning, scoring four runs on three hits. Will McLaughlin singled, Kelly Starr walked and Jake Parsons was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Darby Walker came up to bat next and hit a bases-clearing double followed by an RBI double by Schupp that scored Walker.
WT added another run in the sixth to go ahead 12-5, but in the top of the sixth, the Tigers capitalized on a fielding error by the Buffs with two outs that would have ended the inning and proceeded to score four runs - including a two-run home run by Clint Bowker - to close the gap. West Texas A&M scored another run in the seventh to go ahead by four, but in the top of the ninth inning, East Central again came alive. Bowker reached on a fielder's choice and Tyler Pybas singled, then Chase Watkins walked to load the bases for Kolbie Brown, who hit a two-run double to cut the Buffs lead to 13-11. Armenta struck out swinging, then Tyler Gillum singled to score Watkins but Rowland flied out to left field to end the game. Zeleznak (1-0) collected the win for WT while freshman Chris Gutierrez earned his first save after pitching two-thirds of an inning and striking out one batter. For East Central, Rowland (0-1) took the loss after giving up six runs - two earned - on four hits with one wild pitch and one hit batter in a third of an inning; he faced seven Buff batters. West Texas A&M returns to the field tomorrow for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against ECU at Canyon High School's Conner Park. |
