LUBBOCK, Texas – West Texas A&M softball recorded a pair of victories on opening day of the Visit Lubbock Collegiate Classic as the No. 4 Lady Buffs shutout Chadron State, 3-0, and Fort Lewis, 4-0, on Friday afternoon.  WT now improves to 3-2 on the season. 
 
THE BASICS
Game 1 Score: #4 West Texas A&M 3, Chadron State
Records: West Texas A&M 2-2, Chadron State 0-1
Location: Lubbock Christian High School 
Pitching: (W) Emilee Wilson (1-1); (L) Tia Kohl (0-1); (S) Emma Parrish 1


After a 1-2-3 half inning with Emilee Wilson's three strikeouts, newcomer Brittni Rufus bunted a single down to the shortstop to lead off for the Lady Buffs.  WT took advantage of a fielding error to land runners on first and second before a double steal advanced runners into scoring position.  Megan Guericke and Diana Murtha grounded out to the left side of the field to bring home the runs for WT to take the 2-0 go-ahead lead. 
 
The Eagle defense shutdown the Lady Buffs offense over the next five innings until Diana Murtha ended the drought with her first homer in Maroon & White.  The junior from Summerlin, Nev., drove a 1-1 pitch into deep and over left-center to add the final run to the board. 
 
Emilee Wilson (1-1) earned her first victory of the season on the mound with the shutout allowing just two hits in 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts while Emma Parrish recorded her first save.  Tia Kohl (0-1) was credited the loss allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits with three strikeouts. 
 
THE BASICS
Game 2 Score: #4 West Texas A&M 4, Fort Lewis 0
Records:  West Texas A&M (3-2), Fort Lewis 0-2
Location: Lubbock Christian High School
Pitching: (W) Heidi Vortherms (2-1); (L) Cat Rodman (0-1)
 
The Lady Buffs led of scoring for the second time of the day as Diana Murtha's single through the right side gave WT a 1-0 lead in first before they doubled their lead the next at bat.  Brittni Rufus lead of with a single to the mound before Ruby Salzman singled to right field to move runners to first and third.  A pop-up to the infield brought Murtha to the plate who drove a 2-2 pitch through the 3-4 hole to score Rufus to take the lead before Gabriella Valforte grounded out to the circle to score Salzman to make it 2-0, in favor of the Lady Buffs. 
 
Braeland Booth registered her fourth RBI of the season after driving in Murtha in the third before the Lady Buffs tagged on another run to the board in the fourth to record the 4-0 shutout. 
 
Freshman Heidi Vortherms (2-1) received her second victory on the mound this season as the Sioux Falls, S.D. product allowed just two hits with 10 strikeouts through 6 1/3 innings while Halle Lytal finished on the mound with a strikeout.  Cat Rodman was credited the loss allowing four runs (four earned) on eight hits with two walks, on strikeout and one hit by pitch. 
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Buffs return to Lubbock tomorrow morning when they face Colorado Christian at PlainsCaptial Park.  First pitch is set for 10 a.m. against the Cougars followed by a game against Colorado School of Mines at 1 p.m.  A live stream will be provided for the Lady Buffs against CCU.