LAS VEGAS, Nevada – The #4 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M hit five homeruns including four from their freshman class as WT topped Stanislaus State and #18 Cal Baptist on the opening day of the 8^th Annual Desert Stinger Invite at Majestic Park in Las Vegas, Nevada to open the 2017 season.
 
The Lady Buffs return to action tomorrow as they take on New Mexico Highlands in a South Central Regional matchup with first pitch set for 1:30 p.m. CT followed by a showdown with perennial national power Augustana (S.D.) at 4 p.m. CT in Las Vegas.
 
#4 West Texas A&M 8, Stanislaus State 0 (6 Innings)
Sophomore left hander Shayne Starkey made quick work of the Warriors in the top of the first inning as the Denton native surrendered one hit with two outs but a line out to center brought the Lady Buffs to the plate. 
 
Shanna McBroom started her collegiate career with a bunt single back to the circle followed by  a Kourtney Coveney single but a base running error left Coveney on first with one out, Ashley Hardin walked on a full count followed by an Allie Smith single to left to load the bases and Shea Ibrahim grounded out to first base to score Coveney for the 1-0 lead.
 
Maddie Green began her career in Maroon & White in style to leadoff the second inning as the redshirt freshman connected on a solo bomb to left center field in her first career at bat to run the score to 2-0. WT wasn't done yet as McBroom registered her first career homerun with a two run shot down the left field line to run the score to 4-0.
 
Smith added to the WT lead in the bottom of the fifth inning as the junior lined a ball to the gap to clear the bases with two outs to extend the WT lead to 7-0 headed to the sixth and Green ended the game with a walkoff solo bomb to straight away center field for the 8-0 run-rule victory in six innings.
 
Starkey registered her first career complete game and shutout as the sophomore moved to 1-0, allowing just four hits with three strikeouts.
 
#4 West Texas A&M 8, #18 Cal Baptist 3
McBroom started off the nightcap with a single up the middle followed by a Coveney walk, McBroom stole third before the Lancers responded with a pair of strikeouts and Coveney stole second before Ibrahim walked to load the bases. Brittany Cruz worked the count full and walked in the game's first run as the Lady Buffs took the 1-0 lead into the home half of the frame.
 
Starkey led off the second with a first pitch single thru the left side followed two batters later by a McBroom double to the right center field gap, Coveney walked to load the bases before Hardin crushed a ball to center field for a grand slam at 5-0. WT used the long ball again in the third as Hunter Ervin connected in her first career homerun with a leadoff solo shot to right center field to run the lead to 6-0.
 
The Lancers put runners on first and second with no outs to start the home half of the fourth before Kilee Halbert forced a ground ball to Starkey at first followed by a dribbler back to the circle before the All-American finished off the inning with a strikeout heading to the fifth. 
 
CBU put their first two runners on with infield singles to start the fifth followed by a bloop single to left but McBroom came up firing with a frozen rope to third to cut down the lead runner, Halbert forced a fly ball to Hardin in center before the Lancers scored their first run of the game with an RBI single up the middle at 6-1.
 
Ibrahim responded with a single to left center with one out that scored Coveney, the Lancers forced a popup behind the dish followed by a walk to Ervin to load the bases. Kami Merrill scored from third on a wild pitch followed by a Starkey walk to load the bases again but CBU force an infield popup to end the inning with WT leading 8-1. CBU loaded the bases with one out in the sixth before Halbert forced a grounder to second to score a run followed by a WT error that allowed another run to cross the plate but Halbert closed the door with a groundout.
 
Halbert picked up the win in the circle as the junior right hander (1-0) allowed three runs (two earned) on 11 hits with one walk and three strikeouts in the complete game victory.