Box Score (HTML)

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – The University of Arkansas at Monticello baseball team opened the 2015 season with a 4-3 win over West Texas A&M on Thursday at the QuikTrip Division II Classic.

After five and a half scoreless innings, the Weevils (1-0) broke through for three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Corey Wood started the rally with a leadoff triple to right center, his first career triple in a UAM uniform. Two batters later, junior Mitchell Dornblut knocked in Wood with a single into left field.

Later in the inning, Dornblut scored on a wild pitch and freshman Chase Tucker scored on an RBI single from freshman Brian Ray.

The Buffs (2-1) got on the board with a single run in the top of the seventh on a leadoff homerun from Mason Shiflett. UAM made up for that run in the bottom of the frame with an RBI double from Nick Cerda to score Wood, who singled to left field in the previous at bat.

West Texas finalized the scoring with two runs in the top of the eighth on a two-run single by Jase Reese.

Junior Zach McKnight (1-0) earned the win for the Weevils after a strong outing, giving up just one run off three hits with two strikeouts and only two walks in the first seven innings. Senior Jeff Harvill cushioned his career saves record with his 11th, striking out two in the ninth.

Buffs starter Brooks Trujillo (0-1) took the loss after giving up two runs off three hits with six strikeouts and five walks in the first 5.1 innings. Trujillo did not allow a hit until a Travis Steinke leadoff single in the fourth.

The Weevils are back in action in the QuikTrip Classic on Friday against Pittsburg State. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.