BUFFALO, W.Va. - The struggles continued for the Wahama White Falcon baseball team Friday evening as the Bend Area diamond nine dropped its sixth straight outing after falling to host Buffalo by an 8-1 margin.

Despite out-hitting the Bison by an 8-6 count and getting a strong pitching outing from sophomore right-hander William Zuspan, the White Falcons failed to suppress a couple of big innings from the Buffalo offense. The Bison plated three first inning runs before breaking the contest open with a five run fourth frame to gain the 8-1 baseball victory. Wahama fell to 4-11 following the loss while highly ranked Buffalo improved to 13-10.

Zuspan issued seven free passes during his route going performance with five of those base runners eventually scoring which ultimately proved to be the difference. The young sophomore fanned 11 hitters in easily his most impressive outing of the 2008 spring season.

Wahama, although collecting eight hits on the night, managed just one unearned run off a pair of Bison hurlers with the Bend Area teams lone tally coming in the third. Buffalo pitchers didn't walk a WHS batter with the Bison duo striking out 15 during the seven inning contest.

Buffalo jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening frame when Tucker and Belcher singled to begin the Bison first. Lewis and Scott then drew successive free passes to score the first run of the game. Following a strike out Zuspan hit a batter to chase home another run before Parkins lofted a sacrifice fly to right to give Buffalo an early 3-0 edge.

Wahama cut the lead to two at 3-1 in the third when Brice Clark reached on an error and was followed by back-to-back singles Derek Veazey and William Zuspan to fill the sacks with White Falcons. Caleb Roach's two out single brought Clark around but a base running blunder prevented the Falcons from doing any further damage in the third.

A five run fourth by Buffalo blew the game wide open with all five Bison runs coming after Zuspan struck out two of the first three batters he faced in the inning. Winterstein opened the frame with an infield hit and after the next two hitters struck out Harris coaxed a walk. Tucker singled home a run before Belcher and Lewis walked to chase home another Buffalo run. Adam Scott then cleared the sacks with a bases loaded double to give the Bison a five run inning and an 8-1 advantage.

Although Wahama recorded a hit in each of the final three frames the White Falcons failed to mount anything considered to be a serious threat with Buffalo holding on to the 8-1 triumph.

Veazey had a pair of singles and a double and Zuspan two singles to pace the WHS offense. Garrett Underwood, Caleb Roach and Anthony Bond also recorded one safety apiece for Coach Tom Cullen's crew.

Buffalo received a pair of singles each from Tucker and Belcher with Winterstein swatting a single and Scott driving in three with a double.

Scott came away with the pitching win after going five innings and giving up an unearned run on six hits with nine strikeouts. Lewis finished up on the hill for the Bisons and gave up two hits while fanning six. Zuspan went the distance for Wahama and was tagged with the loss after giving up eight runs on six hits with 11 strikeouts, seven walks and two hit batters.

The White Falcons will again try and bring a halt to its current six game slide when the Bend Area team entertains Poca on Monday for a 5 p.m. outing.

Buffalo 8, Wahama 1

W 001 000 0 - 1 8 0

B 300 500 X - 8 6 2

WHS (4-11): Zuspan and Underwood.

BHS (13-10): Scott, Lewis (6) and Belcher.

WP - Scott. LP - Zuspman.