March 20, 2008

Box Score

KINGSVILLE, Texas - Despite outhitting the Javelinas and getting a solid outing from sophomore pitcher Billy Zeleznak, the West Texas A&M baseball team could not come up with a victory in the opener of a four-game Lone Star Conference South Division series at Texas A&M-Kingsville, falling 4-3 on Thursday at Nolan Ryan Field.

Zeleznak (2-2) turned in his second consecutive complete game effort by allowing only four earned runs on eight hits while striking out four.

Texas A&M-Kingsville, which improved to 16-14 and 11-10 in LSC South play, took an early advantage in the contest as it plated three runs in the bottom of the second inning.

The Buffs battled back to cut the deficit to only a pair of runs as senior second baseman Brian Schupp singled in the first WT tally of the game in the top half of the fifth. The Javelinas, however, countered with a run of their own in the sixth to regain their three-run cushion at 4-1.

West Texas A&M (7-20; 4-16 LSC South) attempted to mount one final rally in the top of the ninth as senior centerfielder Justin Graham led off with a triple to right field. Two batters later, Graham was able to come home on a RBI ground out from Zach Wleczyk. Schupp collected his second RBI of the day with a single into centerfield later in the inning to bring the Buffs to within one run, but the rally ended there as Texas A&M-Kingsville took the opener of the four-game set.

The series continues on Friday at Nolan Ryan Field with a doubleheader which is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.