COMMERCE, Texas – West Texas A&M senior right hander Kilee Halbert allowed just one earned run on two hits while a pair of homeruns lifted the #13 Lady Buffs to a big Lone Star Conference series win at the John Cain Family Softball Complex in Commerce over the #6 Lions of Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
Tuesday night's regional matchup against Lubbock Christian at Schaeffer Park has been cancelled due to this weekend's series in Commerce being pushed back to Sunday/Monday. The Lady Buffs return to action this weekend as they host the Cameron Aggies in a three-game Lone Star Conference series during Military Appreciation Weekend at Schaeffer Park starting on Friday night at 6 p.m.
 
THE BASICS:
- Score: #13 West Texas A&M 5, #6 Texas A&M-Commerce 2
- Records: WT (31-6, 14-4 LSC) / TAMUC (32-5, 17-4 LSC)
- Location: Commerce, Texas
- Venue: John Cain Family Softball Complex
 
HOW IT HAPPENENED:
The Lions got on the board first in the top of the first inning as they capitalized on a Lady Buff error in the outfield for the early 1-0 lead, WT responded in the top of the third inning as Kourtney Coveney lifted a three-run homerun to right field on a full-count offering with two outs for the 3-1 lead.
 
Ashley Hardin continued her great senior campaign in the top of the fifth inning as the Flower Mound product connected on her 72^nd career homerun, a two-run shot down the left field line off of the foul pole to extend the WT lead to 5-1. The senior drove in her 240^th career RBI to sit just four behind former teammate and two-time National Player of the Year Renee Erwin for the program and Lone Star Conference career record.
 
Kilee Halbert rolled thru the early part of the game as the senior held the powerful Lion lineup without a hit for the four innings, Commerce cut into the lead in the home half of the fifth as Monica Cherry scored on an obstruction call at the plate with one out before a fielder's choice as Alyx Cordell cut down the lead runner at third, a walk loaded the bases and Halbert forced a grounder to Hardin at second to end the inning.
 
Shayne Starkey entered the circle and picked up her first save of the season as she sat down the Lions in order in the bottom of the seventh to close out the victory and give WT the series win. Halbert picked up the win (15-5) for the Lady Buffs, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits with five walks and four strikeouts in her six innings of work.