CANYON, Texas – The #6 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M could never get in a rhythm offensively on Saturday afternoon as they had to come back and win the opener before stranding runners on second and third in the nightcap to split a Lone Star Conference doubleheader against Texas A&M-Kingsville at Schaeffer Park on Senior Day. The Lady Buffs fall to 36-9 (20-6 LSC) overall while the Javelinas improve to 23-22 (12-12 LSC) on the season.
 
The Lady Buffs and Javelinas conclude Alumni Weekend tomorrow afternoon with first pitch of the series finale set for 1 p.m. at Schaeffer Park in Canyon.
 
GAME 1 - #6 West Texas A&M 5, Texas A&M-Kingsville 4 (9 Innings)
The Javelinas took advantage of a pair of defensive miscues in the top of the first inning as WT committed two errors with two outs to give TAMUK the early 1-0 lead. Kingsville added to their lead in the top of the third inning on a Roxy Chapa long RBI single to the wall in left center for the 2-0 lead.
 
TAMUK added to their lead in the top of the fourth inning as Randa Hatter singled down the left field line with the bases loaded and one out to drive in a pair and knock Shayne Starkey from the circle, Kourtney Coveney made her first appearance of her career and the former Texas 6A Player of the Year force a grounder to Alyx Cordell and a line drive to Brittany Cruz in right to end the inning.
 
The Lady Buffs finally got on the board in the home half of the fourth inning as they loaded the bases with two outs before Cordell lined a doubled down the left field line to drive in two and cut the lead to 4-2. The Lady Buffs wouldn't go down without a fight as they put runners on first and second with one out before the Javelinas forced a fielder's choice groundout to short for the second out, Kylee Moore doubled to right center to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Shanna McBroom doubled to left field with one out in the bottom of the eighth followed by a Cordell single up the middle but McBroom was gunned down at the plate for the second out followed by a groundout to short to end the inning. Coveney started off the bottom of the ninth with a single thru the left side followed by an Ashley Hardin bunt single to put runners on first and second with no outs, Kingsville forced a shallow flyout to center before a full-count walk to Kami Merrill to load the bases before Allie Smith ended the game with a walkoff single to deep left center field, 5-4.
 
Merrill picked up the win (4-2) for the Lady Buffs, giving up no runs on one hit with no walks and two strikeouts in the final 3.0 innings of play.
 
GAME 2 - Texas A&M-Kingsville 3, #6 West Texas A&M 2
Kingsville didn't waste any time taking the early lead in the top of the first inning as Victoria Schoonard-Saborio doubled to right center to score Rachel Longoria for the early 1-0 lead. Starkey started the home half of the second with a double down the left field line followed by a McBroom triple to right field to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The Javelinas retook the lead in the top of the third inning as Arabella Acosta-Cantu singled thru the left side with two outs and the bases loaded followed by an RBI single up the middle by Lauren Oatman for the 3-1 lead. Brittany Cruz and Ibrahim started off the bottom of the fifth with walks followed by a wild pitch to put runners at second and third with one out, Coveney grounded out to second to drive in Cruz to cut the lead to 3-2.
 
Moore and Smith walked in the home half of the sixth to put runners on first and second with one out followed by a single thru the left side by McBroom to load the bases, Kingsville responded with a strikeout on a full-count offering followed by a ground ball to second to end the inning with TAMUK leading 3-2. Coveney singled up the middle with one out in the seventh followed by a Hardin double to the right center field gap to put runners on second and third with one out, Kingsville forced a popup to first for the second out followed by a strikeout to end the game, 3-2.
 
Alfonso picked up the loss (9-2) in the circle for the Lady Buffs, giving up three runs on six hits with no walks and four strikeouts in the complete game loss.