DENVER, Colo. –  For the first time since 2014, the Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M are headed to the DII National Championship series after defeating top-seeded Augustana, 9-4, on Friday night.  The No. 12 Lady Buffs will now face No. 24 Biola at 12:30 p.m. CT for game one of the best-of-three championship series. 
 
With a scoreless first inning, the Lady Buffs struck with the first hit of the game by Alyx Cordell to bring Gabriella Valforte to the plate.  The freshman smacked her 12^th collegiate homer deep into right field to put WT ahead, 2-0.  Madison Johnson added to the hit count with a double off the left center fence followed by single from Sydney Greeson to put runners on first and third.  Julie Guzman grounded out to the second baseman to score Johnson before Hailey Neira hit up the middle avoiding the diving efforts of the Vikings shortstop to score pinch runner Malaya Delfin, making it 4-0. 
 
Augustana jumped on the board in the fourth with an RBI single before a run was walked in to bring the score within two.  The Lady Buffs immediately responded as Erica Vessels earned her first hit of the night with a shot through the right side before coming around the bases on a double by Cordell. 
 
Gracey Brink added to the Vikings score with a solo homer to bring the game back within two until the Lady Buffs took control of the game with four unanswered runs in the sixth after capitalizing on two errors.  
 
In the final inning, Augustana would fight to the end as Mary Pardo tripled into left center before scoring on a single to the mound but a double play in the infield would salvage the Lady Buffs 9-4 victory.
 
The Lady Buffs and Vikings were evenly matched with nine hits each with WT recording eight RBI.  Eight Lady Buffs registered hits led by Cordell as the senior went 2-for-2 with two walks.  
 
Emilee Wilson received the start on the mound for WT with two unearned runs on four hits through 3 1/3 innings. Kyra Lair (23-5) was credited the victory after entering the game in the fourth inning.  The Canyon native allowed two earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts.