SAN ANGELO, Texas – The #5 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M stranded nine baserunners heading into the seventh inning in a hostile environment at Mayer Field in San Angelo, Texas but the Tournament MVP Ashley Hardin connected on a two-run blast to left field with one out in the top of the seventh to give WT their fourth overall and third straight Lone Star Conference Tournament Title with a 2-1 thrilling win over the #1 Belles of Angelo State. The Lady Buffs improve to 42-9 on the season while snapping ASU's 16-game win streak as the Belles fall to 52-5.
 
Shea Ibrahim took advantage of an Angelo error to give WT their first base runner followed by a Kourtney Coveney bunt single before a Morgan Hill forced a fly ball to center and a strikeout before a popup to the circle ended the inning. Madison Greenwell started off the home half of the inning with an infield single followed by a fielder's choice to move the runner into scoring position, Alexis Alfonso forced a popup to the circle followed by a grounder to Kylee Moore to end the frame.
 
Taegan Kirk singled to right center to start the bottom of the second inning followed by an Alfonso strikeout, Danae Bina doubled to right center to put runners on second and third with one out before a full-count walk to Karina Rocha to load the bases. Fonz forced a grounder to the circle to cut down a run at the plate followed by a strikeout to end threat.
 
The Lady Buffs put runners on first and second with no outs again in the top of the third inning as Alyx Cordell singled to right followed by an ASU error, WT couldn't capitalize as Hill battled back with three straight outs to end the inning. ASU put runners on second and third with one out followed by a Kirk RBI single to right field to give the Belles the 1-0 lead.
 
Bina singled to right to start the home half of the fourth inning and stole second a pitch later, Fonz forced a grounder to Ibrahim at third to hold the runner followed by a comebacker to the circle as Bina moved to third but a grounder to Cordell ended the frame. Cordell led off the top of the fifth with a double to right center followed by a strikeout and intentional walk to Ashley Hardin with two outs before a strikeout stranded two more Lady Buffs.
 
Smith singled off the right field wall to leadoff the sixth followed by a pair of outs and a walk to Brittany Cruz to put runners on first and second with two out but a fly ball to center ended the inning. Kirk started the home half of the sixth with a single up the middle followed by a sac bunt for the first out, a walk forced Fonz from the circle but Kami Merrill entered and got three straight outs to send the teams to the seventh.
 
Ibrahim drew a leadoff walk to start the frame followed by a popup in front of the plate for the first out, Hardin came up with the big swing again as the All-American took a 0-2 offering deep to left center field for the 2-1 lead. Merrill finished off the game in the home half of the frame as the senior stranded a runner on third with a popup in foul territory caught by Maddie Green to end the game.
 
Merrill picked up the win (5-2) for the Lady Buffs, giving up no runs on one hit with one walk and two strikeouts in her 1.2 innings of relief. Alfonso was named to the All-Tournament team as the senior gave up one run on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
 
The Lady Buffs claim the LSC's automatic bid into the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament as WT will likely host a four-team double elimination tournament at Schaeffer Park in Canyon on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The 64-team field for the 2017 NCAA Division II Postseason will be announced on Monday morning via an online selection show at NCAA.com starting at 9:00 a.m. CT.

2017 LSC Championship All-Tournament Team
Abby Walker- Texas Woman's
Brenna Busby - Cameron
Bailey Wallace - Angelo State
Alexis Evans - Angelo State
Danae Bina - Angelo State
Taegan Kirk - Angelo State
Brandy Marlett - Angelo State
Allie Smith - West Texas A&M
Kylee Moore - West Texas A&M
Alexis Alfonso - West Texas A&M
Alyx Cordell - West Texas A&M
Shea Ibrahim - West Texas A&M
Ashley Hardin (MVP) - West Texas A&M