CANYON, Texas – The top ranked Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M started off the day slow as they dropped a 10-6 decision to the Lions of Texas A&M-Commerce but the powerful WT offense responded in the finale to put up 12 runs in the first two innings in a 12-1 run-rule win to take the Lone Star Conference weekend series from the Lions. The Lady Buffs move to 23-4 (10-2 LSC) on the season while the Lions are now 16-14 (5-5 LSC) overall.
The Lady Buffs step out of conference play on Tuesday afternoon as they head down I-27 for a midweek doubleheader with the Lady Chaps of Lubbock Christian (20-6, 10-1 Heartland) at PlainsCapital Park with first pitch set for 2 p.m. in Lubbock. The Lady Chaps took all three games of a Heartland Conference series this weekend from St. Edward's.
Game #1Texas A&M-Commerce 10, #1 West Texas A&M 6
The Lions struck first in the top of the first inning as they loaded the bases with two outs followed by a two run single thru the left side by Audria Zuniga-Romero that drove in a pair of runs, Commerce wasn't done yet as Monica Cherry walked with the bases loaded two batters later to plate another Lions run to give TAMUC the early 3-0 lead after one half inning of play. The Lady Buffs responded in the bottom of the second inning as
Ashley Hardin doubled to right center to drive in
Allie Smith with one out before the Lions answered with two straight outs as the Lady Buffs cut the lead to 3-1.
Commerce added to their lead in the top of the third inning as a pair of hits put runners on second and third with no outs before
Rita Hokianga forced a groundout to
Stacey Ramirez at short for the first out, Cherie Jackson singled to center field to drive in pinch-runner Danielle Guerra followed by a popup to the circle followed by a groundout to
Kaisha Dacosin at third to end the inning with the Lions leading 4-1. TAMUC wasn't done yet as they plated three more runs in the top of the fourth inning on three hits along with a WT error to take the 7-1 lead.
The Lions continued to click at the plate in the top of the fifth inning as they plated three more runs on a pair of Lady Buff fielding errors as they took the 10-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, WT would plate their second run of the game with one out as
Renee Erwin singled up the middle to score
Tyler Wilkinson from second base followed by a Dacosin double off of the left field wall to knock the TAMUC starter from the game.
Lacey Taylor walked on a full-count offering to load the bases with one out followed by a two run single thru the right side by
Allie Smith to cut the lead to 10-4 with one out,
Allie Cranfill walked on a full-count to load the bases followed by an
Ashley Hardin five-pitch walk to drive in a run as the Lady Buffs cut the lead to 10-5 after five complete innings of play.
The Lady Buffs wouldn't go down without a fight as they used a Taylor RBI double to the right center field gap with two outs to drive in Ramirez who singled to shortstop earlier in the inning as the Lions took the 10-6 lead into the seventh inning. WT added another run in the bottom of the seventh inning as Taylor laced an RBI double to the right center field gap to plate Ramirez but Commerce would end the game to take the 10-6 win.
Hokianga picked up the loss in the circle for the Lady Buffs (10-3) as she gave up seven runs (six earned) on eight hits with six walks and five strikeouts in her 4.0 innings of work while
Kilee Halbert finished off the final three frames, giving up three runs (one earned) on two hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Game #2#1 West Texas A&M 12, Texas A&M-Commerce 1 (Final/5 Innings)
The Lady Buffs came out swinging in the finale as Taylor was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and one out to drive in a run in the home half of the first followed by a Smith bases-clearing double to the left center field gap to give WT the early 4-0 lead after one complete inning of play.
Hannah Newcomb got out of a jam in the top of the second inning as a WT throwing error followed by a single and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with two outs before a fielder's choice groundout to Dacosin at third ended the frame with WT leading 4-0.
WT added to their lead in the bottom of the second inning as Gehle and Wilkinson reached base followed by a Ramirez bunt single that forced a wide throw at first base by the Lions as Gehle raced around to score to make it 5-0 with runners on the corners and one out. Another Commerce error led to Wilkinson crossing the plate followed by a double steal that allowed Ramirez to score, WT wasn't done yet as another TAMUC error allowed Erwin to score followed by a three run Smith homerun on top of the black monster in left field to extend the lead to 11-0 with no outs. Cranfill tripled down the right field line followed by a Hardin RBI single to center field to make it 12-0 heading to the third inning.
The Lions plated their first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning as Johnna Sturm sent a 1-2 Newcomb offering to straight away center field with one out for the solo homerun to cut the WT lead to 12-1, that all that Newcomb would need as the junior right hander move to 6-1 on the year, giving up one run on three hits with one walk and five strikeouts in the complete game win.
