COMMERCE, Texas – The No. 17 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M moved to 0-4 in Lone Star Conference play after falling 2-0 and 1-0 to No. 5 Texas A&M-Commerce on Sunday afternoon. TAMUC improves to a 4-0 conference record (10-4 overall) while WT move to 12-4 overall.
THE BASICS
Game 1 Score: #5 Texas A&M-Commerce 2, #17 West Texas A&M 0
Records: #5 Texas A&M-Commerce (9-4, 3-0 LSC), West Texas A&M (12-3, 0-3 LSC)
Venue: John Cain Family Softball Complex
After two scoreless innings, TAMUC opened scoring with an RBI single by Avery Boley to score the runner from second to jump out to a 1-0 lead. The Lady Buffs would land runners on base as
Erica Vessels was walked after a double into right center by
Steph Elliott moving runners into scoring position but a fly ball at the warning track would end the threat.
The Lions doubled their lead in the fifth as Boley singled up the middle to record her second RBI of the game.
Sydney Greeson led off with a double into right center to build momentum for the Lady Buffs as she advanced to third on a fly ball.
Gabriella Valforte walked to place runners on first and third but TAMUC's Emily Otto would shut down the Lady Buffs offensive recording her third strikeout.
Unable to level the score, WT would ultimately fall 2-0 TAMUC. Offensively, the Lions and Lady Buffs were comparably matched as TAMUC had eight hits leaving 10 runners on base while WT had seven hits and left eight on. Six Lady Buffs recorded hits against the Lions led by Greeson with two.
Emilee Wilson moved to 3-2 on the season as she was credited with the loss allowing two runs (two earned) in six complete innings with three walks and a season-high nine strikeouts.
THE BASICS
Game 1 Score: #5 Texas A&M-Commerce 1, #17 West Texas A&M 0
Records: #5 Texas A&M-Commerce (10-4, 4-0 LSC), West Texas A&M (12-4, 0-4 LSC)
Venue: John Cain Family Softball Complex
A pitcher's duel sparked in game two of Sunday's doubleheader as neither team could push a run across the plate until the sixth inning.
The Lady Buffs best look came in the fifth inning as freshman
Hailey Neira slapped a single into left field before back-to-back singles by
Shanna McBroom and
Ruby Salzman loaded the bases. TAMUC held WT shutting down the threat with two fly balls to leave bases loaded.
After going back-and-forth, the Lions jumped on the board in the bottom of the sixth to take control of the game. TAMUC put runners on base after a walk and hit by pitch before moving to scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Chealsea Slider. Cally Pausewang scored the runner from third after laying down the bunt as the Lady Buffs were unable to make the play at home. WT went down 1-2-3 for TAMUC to complete the two-game series sweep with a 1-0 victory.
Alyssa LeBlanc (8-2) was rewarded the victory allowing just four hits with one walk and six strikeouts in seven complete innings.
Kyra Lair (7-2) earned the loss as the sophomore allowed one earned run with one walk and seven strikeouts.
UP NEXT
WT return home as they to welcome No. 25 Lubbock Christian and No. 23 Angelo State to open their LSC home slate. The Lady Buffs will face the Lady Chaps on Friday, March 12 followed by a doubleheader with the Rambelles on March 14.
