The weather outside isn’t the only thing heating up West Texas.  On Feb. 26 the WTAMU Buffs baseball team looked to continue its hot start to the season as they played Northwest Missouri State in doubleheader action at Wilder Park.

In game one, the Buffs found themselves leading 3-2 after one inning of play.  By the end of the third, their lead had increased to 9-2.  NMSU made things interesting in the top of the sixth inning by cutting the Buffs’ lead to 8-7.  However, WT responded in the bottom half of the inning and plated several runs of their own to give themselves a 14-7 lead.  The Bearcats scored two more runs in the top of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough as WT claimed a 14-9 victory.

Junior Kendall Boon led the Buffs offense with four RBI on three hits, which included a homerun over the center field wall. Junior Irving Camacho picked up the win on the mound for the Buffs (4-0), giving up seven runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts.  Fellow junior Zach Walker got the save (2), giving up two runs on one hit in 1.1 innings of work.

Game two was much of the same for the Buffs’ bats.  WT built up a 6-0 lead after one inning and held a 10-3 lead after three.  The Bearcats never could get their offense going as the Buffs cruised to a 22-8 victory and a sweep of the doubleheader.

WT was paced by junior Jess Cooper, who had four RBI and also scored six times.  Cooper’s day was highlighted in the fifth inning when he hit a grand slam.  He also finished a double short of the cycle.  Fellow junior Brad Elders also plated four RBI on the day.

Senior Jonathan Paez got the victory pitching for the Buffs (2-0), allowing four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work.

WT’s overall record now stands at 13-2, which is the best 15-game start in school history.  The Buffs will finish the series with the Bearcats on Feb. 28 at Wilder Park.  The first pitch is scheduled for noon.