DENVER, Colo. – No.12 West Texas A&M will look to win the second National Championship in program history over the next two days when they face No. 24 Biola in the NCAA Division II Championship Series at the Regency Athletic Complex in Denver, Colo. The best-of-three series is scheduled to being on Sunday, May 30, at 12:30 p.m. CT.
Live stats and video will be provided by the NCAA and can found
HERE.
WE GOING TO THE 'SHIP
The Lady Buffs are 3-0 in the NCAA Division II College World Series, all three wins coming against teams ranked in the Top 25. In fact, WT has won 21 of their past 22 games dating back April 16 when they swept Midwestern State by a combined score of 10-3.
Kyra Lair has been impressive in the circle for the Lady Buffs as the Canyon native is a perfect 3-0 with an ERA of 1.79. She has scattered 13 hits for four runs with six walks and nine strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings.
Emilee Wilson got the start against Augie in her first appearance since the regional final against Texas A&M-Commerce.
Alyx Cordell is hitting a team-best .500 in Denver with a double and two RBI while also walking three times.
Ruby Salzman is hitting .364 with a double while driving in a team-high four runs.
Gabriella Valforte is the only Lady Buff to hit a home run in the Mile High City with a two-run shot against Augie.
A LOOK AT NO. 24 BIOLA
Biola enters the championship series at 25-14 following wins over No.1 Augustana and No. XX North Georgia. The Eagles had held opponents scoreless for the opening 20 innings of the NCAA DII College World Series until UNG scored in the bottom of the seventh on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles are led by third-year head coach Nikki Udria, who is no stranger to the College World Series as she played in three during her four-year career at the University of Oregon. After spending a season as the assistant coach, Udria was named the head coach in the summer of 2018 and has accumulated a record of 71-36.
Kayla Neff is one of two Eagles with a batting average over .300 as the senior from Huntington Beach, Calif. is hitting .343 with four doubles, one triple and six home runs for 29 RBI. Allie Beck ranks second on the team in batting average at .316 with two doubles.
The Eagle pitching staff is led by Paige Austin, who has gone 19 1/3 innings at the college world series without allowing a run. The junior is 15-6 with an ERA of 1.26 having allowed 36 runs, 26 earned, 95 hits and 36 walks with 164 strikeouts in 145 innings in the circle. Raylene Roybal has made 17 appearances including 12 starts in the circle for BU accumulating a record of 8-4 with an ERA of 2.43.
