CANYON – An 8-run first inning by No. 15 West Texas A&M was too much for Tarleton to overcome in an 18-8 loss to the Buffs.
 
Tarleton falls to 7-9 on the season and 1-3 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
Landon Thompson put the Texans up 2-0 in the first inning on a 2-run home run to right center field that scored Alec Humphreys. It's Thompson's third home run of the season as the senior went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to raise his team-leading batting average to .455. Zach McCown would add a third run in the opening frame on a single to center that drove home Jake Hasbrouck.
 
West Texas A&M had eight straight batters reach base after the first two batters were retired to start the inning. Six hits in the inning – including a 3-run home run – led to the Buffs scoring eight runs. Troyal Yosko (0-2) started the game and took the loss on the afternoon for the Texans.
 
Tarleton would add a run in the second inning after Dalton Richardson led off with a double to right field and later scored on a wild pitch.
 
Trailing 10-4 to start the third inning, Tarleton scored three runs in the inning on three straight doubles by Humphreys, Thompson and Hasbrouck. The 2-3-4 hitters for Tarleton combed for seven of the team's 11 hits and scored six of the eight runs.
 
West Texas A&M would score three more runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
 
Tarleton will return home to take on Eastern New Mexico in a 4-game series starting Friday, March 11 at the Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex.