STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The No. 6 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M battled back to tie the game late before ultimately falling to No. 19 Tarleton, 9-3, on Friday evening at TexAnn Softball Complex in Stephenville, Texas.

The Lady Buffs finish the three-game series against the TexAnns with a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. 

THE BASICS
Score:#19 Tarleton 9, #6 West Texas A&M 3
Records:#19 Tarleton (37-11, 19-9 LSC), #6 West Texas A&M (30-11, 21-7 LSC)
Location:Stephenville, Texas

After stranding a combined four runners on base in the opening three innings, WT fell behind 2-0 in the bottom of the third on Tann Huie's two-run home run to left field. The TexAnns would add another run in the bottom of the fifth when Destiny Crumpley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and one out. Shayne Starkey regained her composure in the circle to record to straight outs to get out of the game and keep the deficit at 3-0. 

The Lady Buffs finally found some offense in the top of the sixth inning scoring three runs on two hits to tie the game at 3-all. Starkey reached base with one out on an error at third followed by a double to center field from Brittany Cruz. Starkey was thrown out at home on Amelya Huggins ground to short with Salzman coming up clutch with a RBI single up the middle to put WT on the board. Alyx Cordell battled through a seven pitch at-bat to load the bases followed by a four pitch walk to Kylee Moore to bring in another run. Kourtney Coveney was the third consecutive Lady Buff to walk tying the game at 3-all. TSU retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning scoring six runs with two outs including Huie's second home run of the contest.

Starkey (14-5) credited with the loss allowing eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Miranda Martinez pitched 1/3 inning of relief allowing one run (one earned) on one hit and a walk.