AUSTIN, Texas – The top ranked Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M continued the nation's longest Division II win streak on Wednesday afternoon as they used strong performances in the circle to outlast the Hilltoppers of St. Edward's at Diane Daniels Field in Austin, Texas. WT continues the Lone Star Conference's longest win streak as they move to 30-0 while St. Edward's falls to 14-12.
The Lady Buffs become the fastest team in Division II to reach the 30-win plateau this season while becoming just be 19th team in DII History to register a win streak of atleast 30 games as they are currently tied for 10th with Sacred Heart (1990) and Kennesaw State (1999).
WT steps back into Lone Star Conference play this weekend as they take on the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions at the John Cain Family Softball Complex in Commerce. The series was originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Commerce but the series has been moved to Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) due to inclement weather in East Texas expected for Friday.
GAME #1The opener saw a pitcher's duel between WT's
Chelsea Skipper and SEU's Lauren Slatten as the two combined to give up just one hit thru the first four innings of play. The Lady Buffs got on the board in the top of the fourth as
Allie Smith fouled out deep down the right field line as
Brittany Gehle tagged up to score on the sacrafice fly for the 1-0 lead.
Skipper gave way to
Kilee Halbert with one out in the fifth as the sophomore entered and closed the door with a pair of strikeouts to end the threat. The Hilltoppers looked to tie the game in the home half of the sixth as Shelbi Rhooms singled to right field with two outs and a runner on second but
Brittany Cruz ended the frame with a frozen rope to the plays to gun down Morgan Dufor. That's all the momentum that Halbert would need as she went straight thru the order in the seventh.
Skipper picked up the win (5-0) as the freshman allowed no runs on two hits with one walk in her 4.1 innings of work while Halbert picked up her first save of the year as she gave up two hits but struck out four in the last 2.2 frames.
GAME #2The second game saw WT strike early as
Ashley Hardin doubled to left field with two outs in the top of the first inning to score
Shea Ibrahim for the early lead. WT added to their lead in the top of the fifth as Gehle doubled thru the left side to plate followed by another Hardin double to drive in two more at 4-0.
The Hilltoppers scored their first run of the afternoon in the home half of the sixth as Kayla Appleby grounded out to
Stacey Ramirez at short to score Shelby Janda from third to cut the lead to 5-1. WT responded as they extended their lead in the top of the seventh inning with a
Kourtney Coveney walk with the bases loaded and two outs to run the score to 5-0. St. Eds wouldn't go down without a fight as they out runners on first and second with no outs to knock
Alexis Alfonso from the game before defending LSC Pitcher of the Week
Tori Bayer entered and forced a flyout to right field following a bases loaded walk to give WT the 5-2 win.
Alfonso picked up the win (5-0) for the Lady Buffs as the junior allowed two runs on six hits with two walks in her 6.1 innings of work while Bayer picked up her LSC leading fifth save of the season with two walks in the final 0.2 of play.
