SAN ANTONIO – A pair of first inning runs from the Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M proved to be enough offense on Saturday afternoon against the Rattlers of St. Mary's. With the victory, the Lady Buffs improved to 32-4 overall and 23-4 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
Two of the game's three runs came in the first inning when Gabie McConnell started the game with a single. Ruby Salzman joined McConnell on the base paths when the senior reached on an error. With a 2-2 count at the plate, Emilee Boyer pushed a single through the right side to give WT the lead. Diana Murtha drew a walk to load the bases, but Madison Johnson hit an infield pop out for the first out of the inning. Following the first out, Gabriella Valforte grounded out to third base but brought home the Lady Buffs' second run in the inning.
 
WT held St. Mary's scoreless for the first three complete innings until a hit by pitch in the fourth. After going down to first, the Rattlers placed Abigail Dela Rosa as a pinch runner. Dela Rosa did her job, swiping second in the next at bat. The Lady Buffs looked to have escaped the inning until Dela Rosa stole third and advanced home on an errant throw.
 
The Lady Buffs' one-run advantage got put in danger in the bottom of the fifth inning as St. Mary's started to execute its plan to move a leadoff single into scoring position. The runner advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before moving to third on a groundout to second base. Kyra Lair didn't let the pressure rattle her as she forced a lineout to left field on the next hitter.
 
Lair came up big once again as the senior stranded the game-tying run at third base in the bottom of the seventh. Like the fifth inning, the Rattlers moved a leadoff single into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, St. Mary's took advantage of a WT passed ball to move the tying run to third. With the Rattlers looking to force extra innings, Lair struck out the final hitter to complete the victory.