SILVER CITY, New Mexico – The #15 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M connected on three homeruns in the top of the first inning including Ashley Hardin's historic leadoff solo shot to set a new career homerun record as WT rolled past the Mustangs of Western New Mexico on Friday in Silver City, New Mexico.
 
The Lady Buffs return to action tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader at Mustang Park with first pitch set for 1 p.m. CT in Silver City. The first game of the twin-bill will count toward the Lone Star Conference standings while the finale will be just a regional contest between the Lady Buffs and Mustangs.
 
THE BASICS:
- Game 1 Score: #15 West Texas A&M 12, Western New Mexico 2 (5 Innings)
- Game 2 Score: #15 West Texas A&M 14, Western New Mexico 3 (5 Innings)
- Records: WT (17-3, 4-1 LSC) / WNMU (1-22, 0-11 LSC)
- Location: Silver City, New Mexico
- Venue: Mustang Field
 
HOW IT HAPPENENED (GAME 1):
The Lady Buffs wasted little time taking the lead as Ashley Hardin became West Texas A&M's all-time career leader in homeruns as the senior lifted a leadoff solo shot down the left field line for her 63^rd homerun to pass former two-time National Player of the Year Renee Erwin.
 
Kourtney Coveney followed it up with a solo homerun for back-to-back jacks before a Kylee Moore single to left and a Suka Van Gurp bomb to left center to extend the WT lead to 4-0 before the first out, the Lady Buffs would add two more in the frame to take a 6-0 lead after a half an inning.
 
WT added to their lead in the top of the third with six hits including five straight from the Lady Buffs as they extended their lead to 11-1, Stevie McLemore lifted her first career homerun to left to leadoff the fourth as WT took a 12-1 lead.
 
Kilee Halbert went the distance as the senior right hander (9-2) allowed two runs on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts in the complete game victory.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2):
The Lady Buffs got on the board early in the second game as Van Gurp singled up the middle to drive in Coveney followed later in the inning by a WNMU throwing error to plate another for the 2-0 lead, Moore added to the lead in the top of the second inning as the junior launched a three-run homer to left for the 5-0 lead.
 
WT used the long ball again in the top of the third inning as McLemore and Alyx Cordell went back-to-back with solo shots to extend the Lady Buff lead to 7-0, the Lady Buffs weren't done yet as McLemore and Moore both homered again in the top of the fourth inning followed by a Van Gurp two-run shot in the top of the fifth as the Lady Buffs rolled to a 14-3 run-rule win.
 
Shayne Starkey picked up the win (7-0) for the Lady Buffs, allowing two runs on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts in her three innings of work as McLemore finished off the remaining two frames with a pair of strikeouts in the win.