CANYON, Texas – Shanna McBroom and Brittany Cruz combined to hit five home runs as No. 8 West Texas A&M split Saturday's doubleheader against No. 15 Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday afternoon at Schaeffer Park. After holding on to defeat the Lions 9-8 in the first game, WT couldn't keep up with TAMUC in the final game of the series as they fell 13-5.

The Lady Buffs return to action on Tuesday, March 19, with a doubleheader against Colorado State-Pueblo at Schaeffer Park. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. 

THE BASICS
Game 1 Score:#8 West Texas A&M 9, #15 Texas A&M-Commerce 8
Records:West Texas A&M (22-5, 13-1 LSC), #15 Texas A&M-Commerce (20-8, 9-5 LSC)
Location:Canyon, Texas

The Lady Buffs opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning with back-to-back home runs from Cruz and McBroom. Cruz's two-run shot cleared the fence in left field while McBroom sent her shot to deep center. WT would load the bases later in the inning but following a pitching change, Kinsie Hebler retired two straight betters to end the threat.

Cruz would add her second home run of the game in the bottom of the third with another two-run shot to deep left to make it 5-0 in favor of the Lady Buffs. They loaded the bases again but came away empty handed for the second consecutive inning. The Lions got on the board in the top of the fourth inning after Bri Sims reached base with a leadoff triple before coming around to score on an error. They would cut the lead to three runs in the top of the sixth on Vanessa Muro's single up the middle to plate Da'Jia Davis. 

McBroom would make it 9-2 in the bottom of the sixth with her first career home run to left field. Miranda Grotenhuis walked to open the inning with Moore doubling to left center to put runners on second and third with no outs. Cruz walked to load the bases with a walk before McBroom teed off on the first pitch of the at-bat for her first multi home run game of the season. The Lions made things interesting in the top of the seventh scoring six runs on three home runs. Kourtney Coveney relieved Shayne Starkey in the circle after TAMUC cut the lead to 9-6. The senior allowed the Lions to load the bases before forcing three consecutive ground balls to secure the 9-8 victory for the Lady Buffs. 

Starkey (9-2) picked up the win going six innings allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits with walks and three strikeouts. Coveney earned her second save of the season recording the final three outs of the game allowing two runs (two earned) on two hits and one walk.

THE BASICS
Game 2 Score:#15 Texas A&M-Commerce 13, #8 West Texas A&M 5 (6 innings)
Records:#15 Texas A&M-Commerce (21-8, 10-5 LSC), #8 West Texas A&M (22-6, 13-2 LSC),
Location:Canyon, Texas

The Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a two-run home run from Jodie Hill before loading the bases later in the inning with Kyra Lair striking out Chelsea Slider to end the threat. WT would cut into the lead in the bottom half of the inning with Coveney coming around to score on a fielding error from the first baseman. 

The Lady Buffs would take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of runs. Grotenhuis lead the inning off with her fourth home run of the season followed by a Moore triple to right field before coming around to score on McBroom's ground out to third. The Lions responded by scoring 11 unanswered runs over the next three innings to make it 13-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth. WT didn't go down without a fight with McBroom and Vessels going back-to-back but to no avail as they lost 13-5 in six innings.

Lair (12-1) suffered her first loss of her career allowing five runs (five earned) on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts with three pitchers combining to pitch the final 2 1/3 innings.