TYLER, Texas – After a two-hour weather delay, the No. 17 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M dropped two games on opening day of Lone Star Conference play against No. 10 UT Tyler. WT dropped to 12-2 overall (0-2 LSC) on a 8-1 decision against UTT before the Patriots took game two 10-3 to move to 8-4 (2-0 LSC).
THE BASICS
Game 1 Score: #10 UT Tyler 8, #17 West Texas A&M 1
Records: #10 UT Tyler (7-4, 1-0 LSC), #17 West Texas A&M (12-1, 0-1 LSC)
The Patriots jumped on the board first with a two-run homer by Amanda Marek before a double into left center put UTT ahead 3-0 in the second. With one out,
Shanna McBroom singled into centerfield before a groundout and stolen base moved her into scoring position. WT would cut UTT's lead to two as
Sydney Greeson was walked to put runners on first and third before
Alyx Cordell doubled into right to score McBroom from third.
UTT immediately responded with a three-tun shot out into left-center to double their lead. The Lady Buffs would hold the Patriots two innings, until a two RBI single extended UT Tyler's lead 8-1. WT would fight to the end with a two-out base hit to third by McBroom but would ultimately fall 6-1 ending their win streak at 12.
McBroom led at the plate recording three of the Lady Buffs four hits with two singles and a double.
Kyra Lair (7-1) was credited her first loss of the season allowing six runs (six earned) on five hits in 2 1/3 innings while UTT's Payton Foster (4-3) was rewarded the win allowing just one run (one earned) on three hits.
Sydney Greeson saw action on the mound for the Lady Buffs allowing two runs (two earned) on four hits in 3 2/3 innings.
THE BASICS
Game 2 Score: #10 UT Tyler 10, #17 West Texas A&M 3
Records: #10 UT Tyler (8-4, 2-0 LSC), #17 West Texas A&M (12-2, 0-2 LSC)
UTT kept their stride from game one as a two-run RBI single for Kyla Mach put the Patriots ahead in the first. Senior
Alyx Cordell doubled into right center to give WT their first base runner of the game before
Gabriella Valforte reached base on a hit by pitch before advancing to second on a fielder's choice. With bases loaded, a grounder to the third baseman by
Julie Guzman would score Cordell from third before another grounder in the infield leveled the score at two.
Back-to-back throwing errors by the Lady Buffs would give the Patriots back the lead as they added two to their score before a wild pitch brought home another run to make it 5-2. WT would bring the score within two as
Sydney Greeson singled up the middle to score
Shanna McBroom from second.
The Patriots immediately responded as they doubled their lead to secure the two-game series sweep. Cordell and
Hailey Neira each recorded two hits against the Patriots to lead the Lady Buffs.
Erin Hill (5-1) was rewarded the victory holding the Lady Buffs to three runs (three earned) on eight hits with one walk and six strikeouts. WT's
Emilee Wilson (3-1) was credited the loss as the sophomore allowed 10 runs (seven earned) on 10 hits with five walks and two strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The Lady Buffs stay on the road for another Top 25 matchup as they head to Commerce to take on No. 5 Texas A&M-Commerce on March 7. Game one of Sunday's doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. at John Cain Family Softball Complex.
