ST. GEORGE, Utah – The #22 West Texas A&M Lady Buffs used a complete game performance in the circle by sophomore Kilee Halbert and two homeruns to rout the Fort Lewis Skyhawks, 9-1 in five innings on Friday morning to open the 2016 season at Karl Brooks Field during the Dixie State Invitational in St. George, Utah. The Lady Buffs move to 1-0 overall on the season while the Skyhawks fall to 0-1.
 
The Lady Buffs started off the game strong as Kilee Halbert went thru the Skyhawks in order in the top of the first inning followed by an offensive explosion in the bottom of the frame as Stacey Ramirez raced around to score on a Fort Lewis error followed later in the inning by an Ashley Hardin three run bomb to left center as WT took the early 4-0 lead.
 
Halbert surrendered her first base runner in the second with a one out walk but the sophomore responded with two straight outs to end the top of the frame. The Lady Buffs took advantage of another FLC error in the second as Ramirez scored again on an errant throw followed later in the inning by a Lacey Taylor RBI double down the left field line at 6-0.
 
Kylee Moore added to the WT lead in the third as the freshman sent her first collegiate home run over the scoreboard in right center followed later in the inning by Fort Lewis' fourth error of the game to score Ramirez to make it 8-0 after three innings of play.
 
Fort Lewis registered their first hit of the game in the fourth with a leadoff bunt single followed by a groundout to Moore at first, the Skyhawks took advantage of an error as they plated throw first run followed by a Halbert strikeout and a groundout to the circle as WT took the 8-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth.
 
Taylor led off the frame with a walk followed by a groundout and wild pitch to move the senior to third, the Byers native pushed WT's lead to 9-1 on a full count wild pitch as Shayne Starkey took first followed by a groundout to end the frame with the Lady Buffs just three outs from a run-rule win. Halbert finished off the complete game win with three quick outs in the top of the fifth inning for a 9-1 win.
 
Halbert picks up the win (1-0) in the circle for the Lady Buffs, giving up one run (unearned) on one hit with one walk and four strikeout in the complete game win.