CANYON, Texas - Adams State Baseball got out to fast start against No. 10 West Texas A&M on Sunday afternoon but a late rally from the home team propelled them to a 8-5 win and the series sweep.
The Grizzlies (0-7) scored five runs in the first inning of play but never produced a run the rest of the way as the Buffs (8-0) slowly chipped away at the lead to ultimately secure the come-from-behind win.
Nico Nintze got things started for Adams State in the top of the first with a one-out triple to right center.
Logan Bistrup bought Nintze on a full count RBI single to center field.
It did not take long for Bistrup to get home as he got to third on a
Jared Gay single. The Grizzlies then got the bases loaded after
Orlando Romero was hit by pitch. The Grizzlies came when Dakota Solid was walked for the RBI that brought in Bistrup.
Following a pitching change from the Buffs,
Noah Befus got on a base thanks to fielder's choice and the Grizzlies scored two runs, both unearned, on a throwing error from second base to give the visiting squad a 4-0 edge.
The final run of the inning and the game for Adams State when
Patrick Huffaker singled to right field to score Befus to bring the game to 5-0 in favor of Adams State.
Dalton Carleo got the start on the mound and did solid work in six innings pitched. He held the Buffs to three runs, all earned, and gave up just seven hits in that span.
Both squads were scoreless in the second inning and the buffs began their rally with a run scored in the bottom of the third. It was the Buffs only run in the first half of the contest as they produced their final seven runs in the last three in sixth, seventh and eighth inning.
Fast forward to the sixth, the Grizzlies still maintained a 5-1 lead but a pair of runs scored on two hits cut the score to 5-3. One inning later, the Buffs cut the Grizzlies lead to just one. Going into the eighth it was 5-4 before the final four Buffs runs sealed their rally.
The four runs for West Texas A&M came on just two hits as Adams State hit two batters and walked one. The Grizzlies threatened in the top of the ninth getting two runners on base on two hits but both were left stranded as the Buff secured the 8-5 win.
Nintze and Bistrup both went 3-5 on the afternoon to lead the Grizzlies. Both players scored one run while Bistrup also had a RBI.
Trent Hughes suffered the loss (0-1) in a relief effort for the Grizzlies in 1.1 innings of work.
Kyle Kaufman led the way for the Buffs going 2-4 with four RBI on the day. Keone Givens also finished 2-4 and scored two runs. Chandler Dean picked up the win in a relief effort to improve to 1-0. Braden Baker was credited the save for the Buffs and he and dean both pitched the final two innings of the game.
The Grizzlies will remain on the road for a third straight week as they head South to New Mexico for a four-game series against the University of the Southwest Mustangs. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Feb. 15 and 16.
