April 16, 2004

Box Score

STEPHENVILLE, Texas -- The West Texas A&M University baseball team was edged by Tarleton State University, 10-9, Friday night in the second game of the Lone Star Conference South division series.

WTAMU was defeated by the Texans, 12-5, in the first game of Friday's twinbill, and wrap up the three-game series and the Buffs' eight-game road swing Saturday at Noon at TSU's Cecil Ballow Stadium.

The Buffs are now 15-33 overall and 5-15 in the LSC South, after dropping their eighth loss in the last 10 contests.

WTAMU plated four runs in the visitor's half of the first inning, chasing TSU starter David Martin, who lasted just two-thirds of the inning. After senior 2B Dan Moody led off with a bunt single, fellow senior CF Albert Maes blasted a two-run homer to left center. After senior 3B Nick Williams walked, senior Benino Gonzales played a game of copycat, copying Maes with a two-run round tripper to left center as well, putting WTAMU ahead 4-0 and sending Martin to the TSU dugout.

The Texans bounced back with a run in the bottom of the first, before the Buffs added another run in the top of the second, as Moody scored on a TSU error.

TSU scored two runs in the bottom of the second, piecing together three singles and a fielder's choice.

WTAMU made it 8-3 by plating three more runs in the top of the third, as Williams reached on an error, then senior DH Jeff Cramer doubled to left. Gonzales and freshman LF Brady Ribinskas followed with a RBI singles to drive in Williams and Cramer. Gonzales scored on another TSU error.

The Texans committed six errors in the game, as the Buffs scored on five of them.

TSU closed to 8-7 with four runs in the bottom of the third, using two singles and two doubles.

The Texans tied it at 8-all with a run in the bottom of the fifth, chasing WTAMU senior righty Simon Walshe, who went four complete, yielding eight runs, seven earned, on 12 hits.

The Buffs took a 9-8 lead in the top of the sixth as Moody stole second and scored on an error by the TSU catcher.

The lead was shortlived though, as the Texans tied it with a run in the bottom of the sixth and took the lead for good with a run in the bottom of the eighth.

Junior righty reliever Shannon Beer took the loss, dropping to 0-6 on the year.

Moody finished the game 3-5, extending his hitting streak to 16 games, with three runs scored. He also swiped two stolen bases, giving him 25 for the season and moving into third on WTAMU's single-season stolen base list.

Gonzales was 2-3 with three RBI and two runs scored.

The Buffs wrap up the three-game series and their eight-game road swing on Saturday, before returning home on April 20 to face Lubbock Christian University before wrapping up their home schedule with a three-game LSC South series against Abilene Christian University April 23-24.