April 9, 2006

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. --The West Texas A&M University baseball team won a pair of games Saturday evening to split the four-game series with Lone Star Conference border-rival Eastern New Mexico University at Portales, N.M. The first game went into extra innings after being tied 2-2 after nine frames, but the Buffs scored seven runs in the top of the tenth inning to win. 9-2. In the nightcap, WTAMU would break a 1-1 tie in the third runs with three runs and would never look back, pulling in their second win, 12-5.

WTAMU advances to 20-20 on the season and 5-3 in LSC South action. The Buffs have not won 20 games since the 2003 campaign that finished 20-33. The Buffs also surpassed their 2005 LSC South win total Saturday, who went 4-16 last season. ENMU drops to 21-22 overall, with a 3-5 in LSC South play.

Junior southpaw Jessie Rodriguez started game one, allowing only two runs, one earned, in eight strong innings. He struck out seven and walked only two. Senior closer Patrick Wallis came into the ninth with the scored tied 2-2, and held on to the win in the tenth, moving to a 4-1 mark on the season.

A.J. Knight went 3-5 with two RBI and a run scored, including an RBI double in the tenth frame. Sophomore Justin Graham went 3-6 with an RBI and a run scored. Leadoff man Cody Dean went 2-6 with two RBI and a run scored.

In the get-away game, the Buffs offense exploded for 12 runs on 15 hits. Graham went 4-4 with a triple, 3 RBI and a run scored. Dean went 3-5 with an RBI and four runs scored. Junior shortstop Gabe Gonzalez went 3-3 with two RBI and three runs scored.

Freshman Brandon Corbitt gave up four runs on four hits in 4 2/3 innings pitched. He picked up his fourth consecutive win, moving him to 4-2 on the season. Seniors Brandon Wright and Wallis came in relief in the fifth and seventh innings respectively.

On the weekend, Graham hit .533, going 8-15 with a double, triple, six RBI and two runs scored. Knight followed, hitting .444 and leading the team with seven RBI on the weekend. Dean scored seven runs for the Buffs this weekend.

WTAMU will return to Potter County Memorial Stadium next weekend, April 14-15, to host Angelo State University.