CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M senior catcher
Shanna McBroom led the Lady Buffs to 6-5 walkoff victory over Central Oklahoma before the Lady Buffs defeated the Bronchos, 7-3, to complete the doubleheader sweep on Sunday afternoon. WT runs their win streak to 12 games to head into Lone Star Conference play undefeated.
THE BASICS
Game 1 Score: West Texas A&M 6, Central Oklahoma 5
Records: West Texas A&M (11-0), Central Oklahoma (7-2)
After two scoreless innings, the Lady Buffs jumped out to a 1-0 lead with an RBI single by McBroom. Freshman
Madison Johnson broke up Kylee Lynch's no-hitter with a double off the right field fence to be the first baserunner of the game before
Hailey Neira laid down a bunt to the pitcher to move her to third. McBroom drove the first pitch she saw up the middle to score Johnson to give WT the lead.
Central Oklahoma leveled the score in the top of the fourth with an RBI single by Hazel Puempel but WT immediately responded with back-to-back doubles by
Sydney Greeson and
Alyx Cordell to put the Lady Buffs back on top. WT would add insurance runs to the board as senior
Erica Vessels hit her eighth career homerun to make it 5-1.
A homerun for Allie Eicher cut the Lady Buffs lead to two before the Bronchos evened the score. Unable to push a run across, WT would head into extra innings for the first time this season with the score locked 5-5. After holding UCO in the top of the eighth,
Gabriella Valforte walked to lead off for the Lady Buffs to put a runner on base.
A sacrifice bunt by
Julie Guzman would put pinch runner
Malaya Delfin into scoring position before she stole third. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases as McBroom stepped up to the plate with two outs. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Player of the Week drove the 2-2 pitch down the left field line avoiding a diving play by left fielder Jacey Minter to bring home Delfin for the walk off victory.
Kyra Lair (7-0) received the victory on the mound for the Lady Buffs as the right-handed pitcher allowed four runs (four earned) on six hits with eight strikeouts and one walk through 7 2/3 innings.
THE BASICS
Game 2 Score: West Texas A&M 7, Central Oklahoma 3
Records: West Texas A&M (12-0), Central Oklahoma (7-3)
West Texas A&M scored early and often in game two of their doubleheader as they outhit Central Oklahoma 11-5 for seven runs.
Alyx Cordell singled up the middle to score
Ruby Salzman and
Sydney Greeson to put the Lady Buffs ahead 2-0 in the first. Salzman hit a solo shot into right field for her 31
st career homerun to tag another run to the board.
An RBI groundout to the shortstop for
Madison Johnson would score
Erica Vessels before
Shanna McBroom hit a single up the middle to make it 5-0. Salzman crushed her second homerun of the game off the score board in fifth to keep the Lady Buffs momentum before
Malaya Delfin drove a single into left field to score
Julie Guzman for third for WT's final run.
UCO would end the shutout as Allie Eicher scored on a fielder's choice before a double down the right field line brought the score within four. A groundout to the shortstop would end the Bronchos threat to lead WT to a 7-3 victory.
Emilee Wilson moved to 3-0 on the season allowing four hits with four strikeouts through six innings while
Josey Nichols allowed three runs (two earned) on one hit.
UP NEXT
The Lady Buffs will hit the road for the opening weekend of conference play as they face No. 4 UT Tyler on March 5. Game one of Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Suddenlink Field.
