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ABILENE, Texas – It was 37 degrees on the season opener for McMurry, and not only was the weather cold but errors iced the team's chances to defeat West Texas A&M and the Buffaloes took a 7-4 victory at Walt Driggers Field Sunday. McMurry committed six errors including three on the first three plays of the game that turned into a 3-0 start for WTAMU.
Chris Valeros, Adam De LaGarza and Brad Elders all reached base as a result of errors consecutively to begin the top of the first inning Sunday and all three came around to score. In the second, Valeros drove in a run on a ground out, De LaGarza singled home a run in the fourth and Will Miller added a leadoff solo home run in the sixth inning to give the Buffaloes a 6-0 lead.
McMurry rebounded by scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single from
Michael Falcone and when a run came around to scored on an error from Miller. Then, in the eighth, pinch runner
Dylan De Leon scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 6-3.
However, in the ninth, the Buffaloes added insurance when Elders scored on McMurry's sixth error of the game and WTAMU extended its lead to 7-3. In a last-ditch effort, McMurry scored the Buffaloes' fourth error of the game when
Jake Mullin scored with two outs after a fielding error by Heath Baker. But, from there
Clay Schubert grounded out with two runners on to end the game.
The Buffaloes used a pitcher-by-committee system to pick up the win. Only one of McMurry's four runs were earned and five WTAMU pitchers combined to allow just four hits. Chris Shands was given the winning decision for 3.1 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief work where he struck out five.
McMurry's
Dakota Smith threw five innings to start surrendering five runs only two were earned. Junior transfer
Michael Dibiasi pitched well in relief with Miller's home run the only hit he surrendered. Dibiasi finished with four innings of work, one hit, two runs, one earned, two walks and two strikeouts in his McMurry debut.
Falcone was the only player credited with an RBI while the other three runs produced were off errors.
Derek Saltzgaber, Mullin and Brown recorded the other three hits for McMurry.
McMurry will face New Mexico Highlands at Noon Friday in search of its first win of the 2010 season.