CANYON, Texas – Freshman Ruby Salzman homered twice and drove in seven runs as No. 21 West Texas A&M defeated Lubbock Christian 18-9 in six innings on Tuesday afternoon at Schaeffer Park. She recorded her second career multi-home run game while also hitting the 66thgrand slam in program history as the Lady Buffs took the season series over the Lady Chaps.
WT returns to Lone Star Conference play with a three-game series against UT Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas on March 8-9. The series against the Falcons is the start of a seven-game road trip for the Lady Buffs.
THE BASICS
Score:West Texas A&M 18, Lubbock Christian 9 (6 innings)
Records:West Texas A&M (16-4), Lubbock Christian (11-5)
Location:Canyon, Texas
For the second straight meeting, LCU jumped out to an early lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first with Alivia Villarreal and K'leigh Arredondo driving in runs. The Lady Buffs stormed back in the bottom of the second inning with nine runs on seven hits and an error. India Holland reached base with a one out single to left field followed by a single through the right side of the infield by Shanna McBroom to put runners on first and third with one out. McBroom would steal second with Mari Ruiz walking on five pitches to load the bases for Alyx Cordell, who singled up the middle to score Holland. Shayne tarkey would single up the middle to plate McBroom with Ruiz coming around to score on a fielder error from the centerfielder. Brittany Cruz would single to load the bases where Salzman teed off on a pitch sending it to the opposite field for her first career grand slam. The Lady Buffs were not done as Miranda Grotenhuis would add a two-run home run of her own two batters later.
The Lady Chaps wouldn't go down without a fight as they responded with five runs in the top of the third inning to make it 9-7. Starkey would get the Lady Buffs to double digits on a wild pitch after leading off the inning with a single to right field. The visitors would make it a one run game, 10-9, in the top of the fourth inning on Annika Schwartzenberg's two run home run over the wall in left field. They would have their chance to take the lead in the top of the fifth inning loading the bases with one out but Kyra Lair force Morgan Dufour and Schwartzenberg to pop up to end the threat.
WT put on a hitting clinic in the bottom of the sixth with six straight hits after Cordell led off the inning with a six-pitch walk. Starkey's fifth triple of the season would bring home Cordell with Cruz doubling to the gap in left center in the next at-bat. Salzman doubled to right followed by a two-run single through the right side by Kylee Moore. The bases would be loaded later in the inning on singles from Grotenhuis and Coveney with Amelya Huggins driving in a run on a fielder's choice.
Lair set the Lady Chaps down in order in the top of the seventh inning before Salzman ended the game with a three-run home run to left center making her the third player to record seven RBIs in a single game.
Starkey (7-1) picked up the win the going 3 innings allowing seven runs (four earned) on eight hits with one walk with three strikeouts. Lair recorded her first career save pitching the final three innings allowing two runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks.
