CANYON, Texas – The No. 5 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M totaled 37 runs on Saturday night as they defeated Fort Lewis, 25-3, and Northern State, 12-1, in the second day of tournament action at the annual WT Invitational held in the friendly confines of Schaeffer Park.  
 
THE BASICS
Game 11 Score: #5 West Texas A&M 25, Fort Lewis 3
Records:  West Texas A&M 9-2, Fort Lewis 0-8
Location: Schaeffer Park in Canyon, Texas
Pitching: (W) Emilee Wilson (4-1); (L) Alex Tenorio (0-1)
 
The Lady Buffs took control of the game in the first inning as they scored 14 unanswered runs in the first inning on 12 hits and two errors.  Brittni Rufus bunted a single before scoring on a wild pitch on the fourth ball during Ruby Salzman's at bat brining Megan Guericke to the plate.  Guericke reached on the throwing error to score Salzman before Diana Murtha hit a two-run homer to make it 4-0.
 
Five additional runs would cross the plate until Salzman's single into right scored Rufus from third after the sophomore hit a 2-run triple to push WT's lead out to double-digits.  Pinch hitter Justine Navarra added to the board with a shot up the middle before Sydney Greeson's double and Shyanne Sanchez's triple led to the final runs of the inning.  A strikeout would end the Lady Buff's run but the damage was done as the Lady Buffs claimed the season sweep over the Skyhawks.  
 
Emilee Wilson (4-1) was rewarded the victory on the mound allowing one earned run through three innings while Alex Tenorio was credited the loss with six runs (five earned) on three hits. 
 
Diana Murtha went 3-for-5 at the plate to lead WT while Malaya Delfin and Nikki Warren each recorded three RBI. 
 
THE BASICS
Game 12 Score: #5 West Texas A&M 12, Northern State 1
Records:  West Texas A&M 10-2, NSU 4-4
Location: Schaeffer Park in Canyon, Texas
Pitching: (W) Heidi Vortherms (5-1); (L) Meghan Anderson (2-2)
 
Megan Guericke opened scoring for WT in the first inning after the Alexandria, S.D. products single through the 3-4 hole scored Brittni Rufus from third.  Gabriella Valforte would double the Lady Buffs lead after she placed a single into left to score Guericke to make it 2-0 in the first. 
 
The Wolves held the Lady Buffs through four innings until Diana Murtha ended the drought after sending the ball deep and out into right center to ignite a 10-run inning.  Sydney Greeson hit a 2-run double down the left field line before a perfectly executed squeeze play at the plate by Julie Guzman pushed the lead out to five. 
 
WT would add seven additional runs to the board on four hits including a double from right-handed pitcher Josey Nichols to make it 12-0.  Alexandria Arndt would end the shutout as the sophomore catcher sent her first homer of the season into left field but a ground ball to second would end the threat to secure the run-rule victory. 
 
Freshman Heidi Vorthers (5-1) earned the victory on the mound with four hits and seven strikeouts while the Wolves Meghan Anderson recorded the loss allowing 12 earned runs on 15 hits with six strikeouts.  Ruby Salzman had a game-high three hits while Guericke led with three RBI.
 
The Lady Buffs return to Schaeffer Park on Sunday afternoon for the final preseason game of the 2022 campaign when they go another round with Adams State.  First pitch is set for 2:30 pm. CT in Canyon.