April 30, 2006

Box Score

The West Texas A&M University baseball team finished up their regular season and their series with Lone Star Conference South leader, and nationally ranked #4 Abilene Christian, splitting Sunday's double header and the series, dropping game one 12-0, but coming back with a win in their final regular season game, 4-3.

WTAMU finishes the regular season with a 26-27 overall record and 11-9 in LSC-S play. ACU finishes with the top spot in the South Division with their 40-14 season record and 13-6 in LSC-S action.

In game one, the Buffs could not get their offense rolling against the stingy, Wildcat pitching staff, managing only two hits in nine innings. Sophomore outfielder Justin Graham reached on a bunt single in the third inning and junior infielder Matt Ray had an infield single in the sixth.

Freshman Ruben Batista started on the mound for the Buffs, allowing 11 runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched. He struck out two batters while walking one. Sophomore Josh Palmer and freshman Rory Gray finished the game, Palmer finishing the sixth inning and Gray throwing the final two innings.

In the get-away game, the Buffs took a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning after scoring three runs, capped by a two-out, two-run single by senior infielder Drew Conley. ACU bounced back in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run by senior Morgan Colonel, cutting the lead in half, but could not climb all the way back, falling to WTAMU, 4-3.

Senior Ben Prewett threw well in his second start of the season, throwing five solid innings for the Buffs. Prewett allowed three runs on six hits, with a walk and a strikeout, earning his second win in back-to-back weekends and advancing to 2-0 on the year.

Senior Brandon Wright threw the sixth inning for the Buffs, allowing no runs. Senior Patrick Wallis came in to close the game out in the final inning, earning his sixth save of the season.

The Lone Star Conference tournament will be hosted by ACU next weekend, May 6-9. Check back with gobuffsgo.com to receive times and information on when the Buffs will play in their first postseason appearance since joining the LSC.