The WTAMU Buffalo baseball team wrapped up their regular season schedule with a four game series against the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds on April 27-29 in Canyon. WT split the series with ENMU, but were able to clinch a spot in the Lone Star Conference tournament.

The Buffs opened the series on April 27 with an 8-1 win. Senior Justin Kuks (9-0) tied the single-season school record for wins by giving up only one run in eight innings. The victory also earned WT a chance to compete in the LSC tournament for the first time since 2006.

“We expected to make the tournament, but we’ve got to keep getting better,” Head Coach Matt Vanderburg said. Continue reading →

The No. 30 ranked WTAMU Buffalo baseball team traveled to San Antonio for an important four-game series against the Incarnate Word Cardinals from April 20-22. The Buffs were tied with Angelo State for first in the conference and had two series left in the season when they lost three of four to the Cardinals.

WT fell behind 3-0 after the fifth inning of the series opener. The Buffs would get a run on an RBI by junior Justin Henderson in the seventh, but would lose the game 3-1. Junior Ryan Houston (4-3) got the loss pitching seven innings and giving up three runs on six hits.

In the first game of the doubleheader on April 21, WT got off to a 4-2 lead after three innings. Incarnate Word rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at four all. The Buffs would get a 6-4 win from a two-run double by senior Jess Cooper, who went two for four at the plate with two doubles and two RBIs. The win was head coach Matt Vanderburg’s one-hundredth win at WT. Continue reading →

Justin Kuks, Parker Wood and Cody Wright try to tag out the runner. Photo by Melissa Bauer-Herzog.

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The No. 22 WTAMU Buffalo baseball team hosted the No. 25 Texas A&M Kingsville Javelinas for a four-game series from April 13-15. The Buffs and Javelinas traded wins for a 2-2 weekend split; the fourth consecutive split in a Lone Star Conference series for WT.

“I don’t like splitting at home, but we’re competing,” said Head Coach Matt Vanderburg.

The Buffs fell behind 4-2 after the second inning of the series opener on April 13. After four scoreless inning both teams put up three runs in the seventh and TAMUK added one in the ninth for an 8-5 win. Junior Paul Pulley (1-3) got the loss, going six innings and giving up four runs on seven hits. Continue reading →

The No. 20 WTAMU Buffalo baseball team voyaged to Abilene to take on the Abilene Christian Wildcats on April 5-7 for a four-game series. The Buffs won both games of a doubleheader on April 6 to earn the weekend split.

WT had taken a 5-4 lead after five innings when ACU scored three runs in the sixth and three more in the eighth to get a 10-7 win to open the series. Sophomore Steven Diaz (1-3) got the loss, pitching 1.1 innings and giving up three runs on four hits. Senior Jess Cooper came to play going 4 for 4 at the plate with a double, a homer and three RBIs on the night.

A first inning two-run home run from senior Kendall Boone would be all the Buffs needed to win the early game on April 6 by a 2-1 score. Junior Ryan Houston (3-2) got the win pitching all seven innings and giving up one run on four hits with five strikeouts. Continue reading →

The No.22 WTAMU Buffalo baseball team hosted a four-game series from March 30 through April 1 against the Angelo State Rams. WT won the first and third games to earn a 2-2 split with ASU.

The Buffs put up three runs in the first inning and another two in the second of the first game on March 30 to take an early 5-1 lead. The Rams scored a run in the third and fourth innings to cut WT’s lead to 5-3. The Buffs’ bullpen would hold ASU to one run in the ninth for the 5-4 game one win.

“It’s always good to win the first one,” Head Coach Matt Vanderburg said. “It makes for less stress tomorrow.”

Senior Kendall Boone’s RBI single in the first inning of the early game on March 31 gave WT an early 1-0 lead. The Buffs would maintain that lead until the Rams hit a two-run homerun in the sixth to take a 2-1 lead. ASU would add an insurance run in the seventh en route to a 3-1 win. Continue reading →

The WTAMU Buffalo baseball team played a four-game series against the Tarleton State Texans in Stephenville on March 23-25. The Buffs won three of four games to build a 7-1 start in the Lone Star Conference.

WT won the first game on March 23, 7-2 behind a four-run sixth inning. The Buffs started the inning with an RBI double by junior Parker Wood and capped the inning with a sac fly by senior Eric Dorton. Senior Justin Kuks (5-0) got the win going 8.1 innings and giving up two runs on five hits.

The Buffs got shutout in the early game on March 24 by a 3-0 score. WT only managed two hits off of the Texan’s starter Pete Perez. Junior Ryan Houston (2-1) got the loss by giving up 10 hits and three runs. Continue reading →

The WTAMU Buffalo baseball team hosted the Cameron Aggies for a four-game series on March 16-18 to open their Lone Star Conference schedule. The Buffs improved to 15-4 overall and 4-0 in the LSC with the weekend sweep.

WT started quickly in game one on Mar. 16. The Buffs scored two runs in the first inning, three in the second and four in the third to take a 9-1 lead after three innings. WT picked up three more runs in the fifth and got a 12-2 run-rule win to start the series. Senior Jess Cooper went 3-for-4 at the plate including two doubles and three RBIs. Continue reading →