AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 6 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M grabbed an 8-3 victory in the series opener against the Hilltoppers of St. Edward's before falling 4-3 in game two. The Lady Buffs move to 19-8 (8-6 LSC) on the season while St. Edward's moves to 13-15 overall (4-10 LSC).
WT will be back in action on Sunday, March 27, when they face St. Mary's in San Antonio. First pitch of the conference doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. CT.
THE BASICS
Game 26 Score: #6 West Texas A&M 8, St. Edward's 3
Pitching: (W)
Heidi Vortherms (8-3), (McKenna Leamon (6-7)
Ruby Salman led off the game with a single into center before coming across the plate three batters later with an RBI single from
Madison Johnson. The Lady Buffs added another quick run to the board with a fielder's choice to bring home
Brittni Rufus for WT to lead, 2-0, until WT doubled their lead with a two-run single by
Diana Murtha.
The Lady Buffs took control of the game in the fourth scoring four runs on three hits and one error. Salzman reached on a fielder's choice before Rufus walked to bring
Gabriella Valforte to the plate. The Lone Star Conference Hitter of the Week launched a double off the wall to score Salzman. With runners on second and third,
Diana Murtha sent her 11
thhomer deep and out into centerfield to make it 8-0.
St. Edward's Megan Morris ended the shutout in the fifth as the freshman hit an RBI single before Alexis Massie sacrifice fly into left brought the score within six. The Hilltoppers added the final run in the seventh but a popup to second ended the threat.
Heidi Vortherms (8-3) was rewarded the victory allowing one hit with four strikeouts and a wild pitch while McKenna Leamon (6-7) was credited the loss allowing seven runs (seven earned with five walks and two strikeouts.
THE BASICS
Game 27 Score: St. Edward's 4, West Texas A&M 3
Pitching: (W) Renna Toomey (4-2),
Kyra Lair (2-1)
WT led off scoring early for the second time of the day with an RBI single by
Shyanne Sanchez. With one out,
Madison Johnson walked before moving to second on a single by
Julie Guzman. A groundout to third moved runners second and third until the Lady Buffs loaded the bases with a walk for
Megan Guericke to bring Sanchez to the plate. Sanchez hit a hard shot between the 5-6 hole to score Johnson from third to lead 1-0.
Two runs would come across the plate for the Lady Buffs in the third as
Gabriella Valforte hit an RBI single to score
Brittni Rufus from second followed by a double from
Julie Guzman to make it 3-0 in favor of WT.
The Hilltoppers brought the score within one with Valerie Brant's single to drive in a pair of runs in the sixth. After shutting down the Lady Buffs offense, WT would walk in a run to level the score until an error at first gave St. Edward's the walk-off 4-3 conference victory.
Renna Toomey (4-2) received the victory after throwing the final four innings allowing just four hits while
Kyra Lair was credited the loss after allowing the final run.
