CANYON, Texas – The No. 14-ranked West Texas A&M softball team battled a windy Texas Panhandle day to take both games of its Saturday doubleheader with Texas A&M International. The Lady Buffs (39-5, 30-5 LSC) defeated the Dustdevils (17-29, 13-22 LSC) by scores of 7-1 and 7-0 at Schaeffer Park.
 
WT looks to complete its sweep of TAMIU tomorrow at 12 p.m.
 
THE BASICS
Game 43 Score: West Texas A&M 7, Texas A&M International 1
Pitching: (W) Emilee Boyer (14-2); (L) Erika Cortez (8-9)
 
Each team recorded a hit in its first trip to the plate but couldn't turn the knocks into first inning runs. In the second, Gabriella Valforte pinch hit for Megan Guericke. Valforte made the most of her plate appearance, sending the 1-0 pitch over the right field wall. After Braeland Booth doubled with two outs, Nikki Warren pinch ran for the Lady Buff catcher. Brittni Rufus followed the double with a triple into the gap to score Warren and give WT a 2-0 lead.
 
The Lady Buffs added another run in the third when Diana Murtha powered a ball through the gusting wind for a solo home run. WT put the game out of reach in the fifth as a Salzman walk and Boyer reached-on-error allowed Murtha to drop a bunt single down and load the bases. With no outs, Madison Johnson barreled a ball through the left side and brought home two more runs. The Lady buffs threatened to add more, but the Dustdevil pitching staff stood tall to hold WT off the board for the remainder of the inning.
 
In the top of the sixth, TAMIU scored its lone run on the day after loading the bases with one out. A single into left field by Victoria Maldonado brought home Kristin Mladonado to bring the score to 5-1. The Lady Buffs answered the Dustdevils run with two of their own as back-to-back singles from Rufus and Gabie McConnell put runners on first and third with no outs. WT then executed a double steal on the base paths, bringing home another run. Salzman added to the hit party in her at bat as the senior laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first. Salzman forced herself into a rundown, allowing just enough time for McConnell to sneak home and score.
 
Emilee Boyer registered her 14^th win in the circle for the Lady Buffs, pitching six innings while scattering six hits and striking out seven.
 
THE BASICS
Game 44 Score: West Texas A&M 7, Texas A&M International 0
Pitching: (W) Emilee Wilson (6-1); (L) Carla Arellano (6-10)
 
Game two went scoreless until the bottom of the third where the Lady Buffs scored first. Julie Guzman started the inning with a leadoff walk. With one out, Rufus grounded into a fielder's choice, but the Dustdevils' throwing attempt to second base went wide and allowed Guzman to move to third. After Rufus stole second, McConnell singled to the left side of the infield and stole second base, allowing Guzman to score. An RBI groundout for Ruby Salzman brought in another run for WT, pushing the advantage to two.
 
The Lady Buffs strung together their biggest scoring inning on the afternoon in the bottom of the fourth. A leadoff double from Murtha set up Madison Johnson's two-run shot into the outfield bleachers to make the score 4-0. Another walk from Guzman followed by an error by TAMIU set up runners on first and third with one out. Rufus came up big for the Lady Buffs as the junior ripped a single right up the middle to score two additional runs. The Dustdevils looked to have retired the side when Salzman hit a fly ball into left field when the defender dropped the opportunity, bringing home Rufus from second.
 
Emilee Wilson received the win in the circle after posting 3.0 innings with three strikeouts and one walk.