CANYON, Texas – The No. 19 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M earned their first Top 25 victory this season as they defeated No. 24 Angelo State 13-5 before falling to the Rambelles 17-13. WT moves to 15-5 (3-5 LSC) this season while the Rambelles move to 12-7 (4-4 LSC).
THE BASICS
Game 1 Score: #19 West Texas A&M 13, #24 Angelo State 5
Records: #19 West Texas A&M 15-4 (3-4 LSC), #24 Angelo State 11-7 (3-4 LSC)
For just the fourth time this season, an opponent opened scoring against the Lady Buffs as a double into left center by Courtney Barnhill gave ASU a 2-0 lead. The Lady Buffs jumped on the board in the home half of the second after taking advantage of a fielding error to bring the score within one.
ASU extended their lead with two runs before WT took control of the game as the Lady Buffs scored five runs on five hits. Three straight singles by WT put the score at 4-3 in favor of the Rambelles before
Gabriella Valforte hit her sixth home run of the season to put the Lady Buffs ahead 6-4.
Madison Fernandez hit a solo shot deep into right field inches away from foul pole to bring the score back within one. The Lady Buffs added insurance in the fifth with six runs before securing the six-inning run-rule victory as senior
Alyx Cordell hit a solo homerun into left center to end the game 13-5.
Shanna McBroom led WT at the plate with three hits while
Ruby Salzman and
Alyx Cordell each recorded two. Salzman and Valforte led the team in RBI as each brought home three runs.
Kyra Lair (9-2) was rewarded the victory as the sophomore right-handed pitcher allowed five runs (five earned) on six hits with two walks. The Canyon native struckout nine batters to tie her career high.
THE BASICS
Game 2 Score: #24 Angelo State 17, #19 West Texas A&M 13
Records: #24 Angelo State 12-7 (4-4), #19 West Texas A&M 15-5 (3-5)
Back-and-forth action occurred in game two of Sunday's doubleheader as both teams combined for 30 runs on 34 hits over seven complete innings.
Angelo State opened scoring early as a fielding error scored the runner from third in the first inning before back-to-back homers by
Steph Elliott and
Erica Vessels put the Lady Buffs ahead 3-1. The Rambelles took back the lead in the third until an RBI groundout for WT even the score at four.
After ASU scored five runs in the fourth, the Lady Buffs immediately responded as they took their first lead of the game. Three straight walks loaded the bases for WT to bring
Madison Johnson up to bat who reached on a fielding error that scored
Gabriella Valforte. Catcher
Shanna McBroom hit a shot up the middle to add another run to the board before
Ruby Salzman hit a two-RBI double into right center to bring the score within one. After stealing second, Salzman would score as
Sydney Greeson sent one deep and out to make it 10-9 in favor of the Lady Buffs.
The Rambelles would take back the lead for the final time as they brought home five runs in the top of the fifth. WT would bring the score back within one with hits by McBroom and Salzman but back-to-back homers would add insurance for the Rambelles to make it 17-13.
WT fought to the very end as they loaded the bases with one out but a fly ball and strikeout would give the Rambelles the victory.
Emilee Wilson earned the start at the mound allowing nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits in four innings while
Kyra Lair (9-3) was credited the loss after coming in for Wilson in the fifth. Lair allowed eight runs (eight earned) on 10 hits.
UP NEXT
The Lady Buffs will head on the road as they set out for matchups against Texas A&M International and Texas A&M-Kingsville on March 19 and 21.
