The WTAMU baseball team took a break from conference play to travel to Hobbs, New Mexico to play a re-arranged doubleheader with the University of the Southwest on Feb. 15.

In the first game of the day WT took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.  USW stormed back in the bottom half of the inning to take a 4-1 lead.  Things weren’t looking good for the Buffs until the top of the sixth inning.  WT scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to claim the lead.

The Buffs added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh and held off USW in the bottom half of the inning to claim a 7-5 victory.  Junior Eric Dorton sparked the offense for the Buffs in game one going 2-for-3 with three RBI.  His day was highlighted in the top of the first inning when he hit his first homerun of the season to leadoff the game.

Junior relief pitcher Zach Walker was credited with the win for the Buffs (1-0).  He gave up no runs and just one hit while pitching two innings.  Fellow junior Justin Kuks got the save (1) for the Buffs.  He didn’t give up any runs or hits in just 0.1 innings of work.

USW’s bats got hot in game two.  WT kept the game close but was unable to overcome the Mustangs as they came away with the 4-3 victory to earn the split.  Junior Jess Cooper led the way for the Buffs on offense going 2-for-3 with an RBI.  Senior relief pitcher Chad McLin was tagged with the loss for the Buffs (0-1).  He gave up two runs on six hits in 2.1 innings of work.

WT’s overall record now stands at 5-2.  The Buffs will return to LSC play Feb. 18-19 when they travel to Portales, New Mexico for a three game series with Eastern New Mexico.  First pitch from Greyhound field is set for 4:00 p.m. on Feb. 18 with a doubleheader scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. on Feb 19.