PORTALES, N.M. – Amelya Huggins became the third Lady Buff in program history and first since 2013 to drive in eight runs in a single game as No. 9 West Texas A&M defeated Eastern New Mexico twice on Saturday to sweep the three-game series. The Lady Buffs outscored ENMU 24-5 in Saturday's doubleheader as they extended their win streak over the Greyhounds to 34 games.
The Lady Buffs get a week off before hosting Texas Woman's on April 18-19 on Senior Weekend at Schaeffer Park.
THE BASICS
Game Score:#9 West Texas A&M 15, Eastern New Mexico 0
Game 2 Score:#9 West Texas A&M 9, Eastern New Mexico 5
Records:#9 West Texas A&M (27-10, 18-6 LSC), Eastern New Mexico (10-23, 6-15 LSC)
Location:Portales, N.M.
Game One
The Lady Buffs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first on Huggins' three-run home run to left center. Kylee Moore, leading off for the first time in her career walked, with Shanna McBroom singling to left field before Huggins sent one over the fence for her fourth home run of the year. A Ruby Salzman solo home run in the top of the second would make it 4-0 in favor of WT.
WT blew the game wide open in the top of the fourth inning scoring five runs on three hits. Salzman reached base to open the inning as she was hit by a pitch followed by a single by Alyx Cordell. Moore would walk again to load the bases before McBroom drove in a run with a single to center. Huggins was up next and connected on her first career grand slam to make it 9-0.
Brittany Cruz's second grand slam in as many weeks highlighted a six run fifth inning for the Lady Buffs. Salzman was hit by a pitch for a second time followed by a back-to-back singles from Moore and Kourtney Coveney. McBroom would drive in a run with another single up the middle followed by a bases loaded walk by Huggins for her record tying eighth RBI of the game. Following the second out of the inning, Cruz sent one high and deep for her third career grand slam.
Kyra Lair (13-3) would sit the Greyhounds down in order in the bottom of the fifth inning as the freshman recorded the ninth no-hitter in program history striking out a career-high eight batters over five innings.
Game Two
WT scored three runs in the top of the first inning for the second consecutive game on three run home run, this time from Shayne Starkey. Moore and Huggins both reached bases on walks before Starkey connected on her fourth home run of the year to make it 3-0. The Greyhounds threatened in the bottom half of the inning loading the bases with one out but Lair struck out two straight batters to get out of the jam.
Huggins would make it 4-0 in the top of the fourth with another bases loaded walk. Cordell opened the inning with a double to left followed by another walk to Moore. Coveney's single to left would load the bases before Huggins added to the Lady Buffs lead with another walk. ENMU would get one back in the bottom of the fourth on a throwing error.
Starkey drove in her fourth run of the game with a one out double to left field in the top of the sixth to make it 5-1. The Greyhounds stormed back in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 5-all on two-run home runs from Jennifer McElroy and Lauren Likes.
Moore would take advantage of getting a pitch in the zone as she broke the deadlock in the top of the seventh with single to right field to plate Salzman, who led the inning off with a double. Coveney's sac fly to left was deep enough to score Cordell with McBroom emptying the bases with a two-run home run.
Starkey (12-4) picked up the win in relief going allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits with one walk and a strikeout. Lair got the start going three innings allowing two hits with four strikeouts while Coveney pitched the seventh in relief allowing three hits.
