GULF SHORES, Ala. – The No. 4 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M registered their first victory of the 2022 season as they shutout West Alabama, 8-0, after falling to No. 7 Valdosta State, 7-3, in the season opener.
 
THE BASICS
Game 1 Score: #7 Valdosta State 7, #4West Texas A&M 3
Records: Valdosta State 1-0, West Texas A&M 0-1
Location: Gulf Shores Sports Complex in Gulf Shores, Ala.
Pitching: (W) Mia DeAngelis (1-0); (L) Emilee Wilson (0-1)
 
The Lady Buffs fell in the season opener for the first time since 2010 as ­­the Blazers opened scoring in the first inning with a 3-0 lead with the help of a 2-RBI double by Ally Clegg.  VSU doubled their lead in the second until a double down the left field line added the Blazers final run.  
 
WT ended the shutout in the sixth as Diana Murtha reached on an error before Madison Johnson singled to put runners in scoring position.  A hit by pitch loaded the bases to bring Julie Guzman to the plate for the sophomore to single to bring home Murtha.  The Blazers walked in a run before Brittni Rufus' sac fly cut VSU's lead, 7-3. 
 
Emilee Wilson was credited the loss after allowing six runs (six earned) on four hits through 1 1/3 innings while Mia DeAngelis earned the victory with three runs (one earned), allowing seven hits.  Johnson led at the plate going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. 
 
THE BASICS
Game 2 Score: West Texas A&M 8, West Alabama 0
Records: #4 West Texas A&M (1-1), West Alabama (1-1)
Location: Gulf Shores Sports Complex in Gulf Shores, Ala.
Pitching: (W) Heidi Vortherms (1-0); (L) Kacy Noland (0-1)
 
The Lady Buffs found momentum in game two as they opened the first inning with four runs led by a single from Sydney Greeson and 2-run double for newcomer Braeland Booth.  Ruby Salzman singled through the right side before Diana Murtha doubled for runners to land on second and third.  With two outs, Greeson landed a hit in the outfield to score the runs.  A walk moved runners into scoring position to bring Booth to the plate.  The Wichita, Kan. product hit a shot to the outfield to bring home Julie Guzman and Greeson to extend WT's lead, 4-0. 
 
WT added three more runs to the board over the next four innings until a walk-off single for Greeson secured the 8-0 run-rule victory.  
 
Freshman Heidi Vortherms earned her first collegiate victory throwing all six innings with 11 strikeouts and just five hits.  The Tigers' Kacy Noland was credited the loss allowing six runs (one earned) with nine hits, two walks and one strikeout. 
 
Three Lady Buffs recorded multiple hits in the victory led by Greeson with a pair of RBI and a run followed by Salzman and Brittni Rufus with two hits each.  Braeland Booth also recorded two RBI going 1-for-3 at the plate. 
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Buffs return to the Gulf Shores Sports Complex at 9 a.m. with a matchup against the Barry Bucs.