AUSTIN – After being shutout for the first time this season on Tuesday, the West Texas A&M softball team bounced back with a 6-2 victory over St. Edward's. The Lady Buffs secured the Lone Star Conference series and improved to 37-5 overall on the season and 28-5 in conference play.
 
The Lady Buffs went quietly in the first two innings of the series deciding game. Their fortune changed in the third inning when Brittni Rufus reached on an error with one out. Rufus promptly stole second base to put herself in scoring position. The stolen base worked in WT's favor as Gabie McConnell stroked a double to left field and gave the Lady Buffs a 1-0 advantage. Ruby Salzman stretched the lead to three runs as the senior blasted her 63^rd career home run over the fence. Salzman's two-run shot moved her into third on the program's all-time home run leaderboard.
 
WT added to its advantage in the fourth inning when Julie Guzman reached base on a hit by pitch and stole second base. On a 1-1 count, Brittni Rufus blasted a home run to right field, putting the Lady Buffs up 5-0. Rufus' home run placed WT's fifth hit on the board, matching their two-game total from Tuesday's games.
 
The Lady Buffs tacked on another run in the top of the sixth inning after Madison Johnson started the inning with a single. Johnson moved into scoring position when Megan Guericke grounded out. On Guzman's bunt single to the pitcher, Johnson moved to third base, setting up a first and third situation. Just as they have done all year, WT forced the Hilltoppers' defense into a tough situation, sending Guzman to second. Although St. Edward's looked to have chased Guzman back to first, pinch runner Ruby Moore snuck her way down the third-base line to score another run for the Lady Buffs.
 
In the circle, Kyra Lair cruised through the Hilltopper lineup until the sixth inning. Lair carried a no-hitter into the inning, but an Arianna Vidales single to start the inning spoiled the accolade for Lair. A walk and an infield single set SEU for a bases-loaded, no-outs situation. After the infield single, Emilee Wilson came out of the bullpen to take over the game. Wilson struck out the first hitter she faced before allowing a walk to bring in the Hilltoppers' first run of the game. The senior forced a groundout to Diana Murtha at third base where she made a great play to beat the runner to the plate. Wilson escaped the situation after McConnell snagged a ball on her back end and successfully made the throw to first.
 
St. Edward's scratched a run across in the seventh as a leadoff double came around to score. Despite the run, Wilson settled back in and secured the victory.
 
WT returns to Schaeffer Park for a Lone Star Conference series with Texas A&M International. The three-game series starts with a 4 and 6 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, April 15 before a 12 p.m. series finale on Sunday.