May 8, 2006

Abilene, Texas -- In a constant rain, the West Texas A&M University baseball team dropped their Lone Star Conference Tourname opening game, 8-7, against the University of Central Oklahoma on a walk-off sacrifice fly Saturday at Crutcher Scott Field in Abilene, Texas.

After being down early, 3-0, the Buffs answered with a run in the fourth inning and four more in the sixth to take a 5-3 lead, adding two more runs in the seventh. WTAMU had a 7-5 advantage going into the bottom half of the eighth frame, when the game was stopped for a 20 minute rain delay. UCO scored two runs in the eighth to tie the score, 7-7. After an infield single and two walks to load the bases, the Bronchos Braden Blackburn hit a one-out sacrifice fly to center field.

Junior Matt Ray led the Buffs at the plate, going 3-5 and finishing a home run shy of the cycle. Ray led WTAMU with three RBI and a run scored. Junior infielder Gabe Gonzalez went 2-3 with a two-run single in the fourth inning.

Junior starter Jessie Rodriguez pitched seven solid innings, with 11 strikeouts and only three walks. He allowed six runs, but only four were earned. In the eighth, senior Brandon Wright came on in relief, lasting only a 1/3 of an inning while giving up one run on a hit and two walks.

Senior Patrick Wallis received the loss, moving to 4-3 on the season, after entering in the bottom of the eighth. He gave up one run on one hit, while walking three UCO batters.

The Buffs will face Angelo State University Sunday afternoon at noon. The Buffs are 0-8 all-time against the second-year program.