LAS VEGAS, Nevada – The #4 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M overcame a slow start on Sunday afternoon as a Kylee Moore solo blast in the top of the sixth inning proved to be the difference as WT topped the Cougars of Sioux Falls, 5-4 to conclude the 2017 Desert Stinger Invite at Majestic Park in Las Vegas, Nevada. WT improves to 15-0 all-time at the Desert Stinger and 5-0 on the season while the Cougars fell to 2-3.
 
The Cougars took the lead in the bottom of the second inning as they ledoff the frame with a double to left center followed by a sac bunt and infield single to put runners on the corners with one out, a stolen base put both runners in scoring position followed by a walk to load the bases before Emma Schifferle lined a two run single to left to five USF the 2-0 lead.
 
Sioux Falls loaded the bases with one out in the home half of the third before Megan Peterson lifted a sac fly to left field followed by a passed ball to plate another run to give the Cougars a 4-0 lead headed to the fourth. 
 
WT finally found their offensive rhythm in the top of the fourth inning as Allie Smith, Shea Ibrahim and Maddie Green singled with one out to load the bases. Kylee Moore laced a ball to the gap to score two and Green got in a rundown but the USF catcher couldn't handle a throw to score the run at 4-3, Moore scored a pitch later on a wild pitch to the backstop to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Kami Merrill gave way to Alexis Alfonso in the bottom of the fourth with one out and a runner on first as the senior came in throwing gas with a strikeout followed by a WT fielding error before Fonz forced a grounder to the circle to end the inning. Alfonso picked up the win (2-0) for the Lady Buffs, giving up no runs on one hit with no walks and three strikeouts in her 3.2 innings of relief.