HOUSTON, Texas – West Texas A&M dropped its final two games of the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational on Sunday afternoon in Houston, Texas to St. Mary's and #20 Arkansas Tech.
THE BASICS
Game 1 Score: St. Mary's 4, West Texas A&M 3
Records: St. Mary's (2-3), West Texas A&M (3-2)
Location: Houston, Texas
The Rattlers opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Staci Johns doubled to left center to score Victoria Aldridge with one out. StMU would add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on a single by Angie Camacho to plate Kristal Salinas who led the inning off with a single to left field.
WT's bats came alive in the top of the sixth inning to score three runs and take the lead. Shayne Starkey reached base with one out on a walk before coming around to score on a double to left center by Kylee Moore. Amelya Huggins proceeded to drive in pinch runner Brittney Gonzalez with a single to left before advancing to third on a throwing error. The freshman would score to give WT a 3-2 lead on Shanna McBroom's single to right center. StMU would hand WT their second walk-off loss in two days scoring two in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Coveney (0-2) was saddled with the loss allowing two runs (two earned) on two hits and a walk in 1/3 innings of work. Kyra Lair went 3 innings allowing one run (one earned) on two hits while Starkey went 3 innings in relief allowing one run (one earned) on three hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
THE BASICS
Game 2 Score: Arkansas Tech 5, West Texas A&M 3
Records: Arkansas Tech (2-3), West Texas A&M (3-3)
Location: Houston, Texas
Starkey set Arkansas Tech down in order in the second and third inning until running into some trouble in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sarah Coronado singled with one out followed by another single by Sydnie Henson followed by a walk by Kristen Demps but Starkey got Gaby Vasquez to pop up to Erica Vessels to keep the game scoreless.
The Lady Buffs opened the scoring in the top of the fifth inning with two runs on a crazy sequence events. With bases loaded with two outs, Brittany Cruz scored on a wild pitch, that resulted in an errant throw by the first baseman which scored Gonzalez. ATU responded in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead scoring three runs, all coming with two outs.
Moore tied the game at 3-all with one swing of the bat in the top of the sixth inning. The senor connected on her first home run of the season sending the ball of the fence in center field on a 3-1 pitch. Ashton Sangster tripled with two outs in the bottom half of the inning before coming around to score on Paty Loredo's single up the middle. ATU would add another run in the inning on a bases loaded single by Makenzie Goins.
Starkey (1-1) picked up the loss in the circle allowing two runs (two earned) on seven hits 1 1/3 innings. Lair got the start going 4 2/3 innings allowing three runs (three earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and four walks.
UP NEXT
The Lady Buffs return to action next weekend, Feb. 9-10, at the LCU Invitational where they will face off against Lubbock Christian, UC-Colorado Springs and UT Permian Basin at Plainscapital Park.
