CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M softball showed why its ranked No. 14 in the country, defeating Western New Mexico 8-0 in six innings. The Lady Buffs improved their record to 35-4 overall and 26-4 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
WT plated its first runs in the bottom of the first inning when Emilee Boyer drew a two-out walk. With two strikes in her at bat, Diana Murtha launched a ball over the left field wall. Murtha's home run held up as the only offense for the Lady Buffs until the bottom of the second inning.
 
With one out in the second, Julie Guzman reached base on a hit by pitch. A fly out by Shyanne Sanchez put the Mustangs in position to escape the inning, but a double off the wall in left by Brittni Rufus brought home another run for WT.
 
In the fourth inning, Sanchez doubled followed by a Gabie McConnell walk to put runners on the base paths. Sanchez was forced out when Ruby Salzman reached on a fielder's choice to third base. During Boyer's at bat, McConnell and Salzman moved up on a wild pitch to the backstop. Boyer brought home the two Lady Buffs when the freshman ripped a 3-2 pitch up the middle.
 
WT added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth with two outs. Guzman laced a single into left field where the WNMU defender misplayed the ball, allowing it to roll to the wall. The error allowed Guzman to move to third base where Sanchez doubled down the left field line. The Lady Buffs couldn't end the game in the fifth.
 
It didn't take long for WT to bring the run rule into effect as the Lady Buffs needed just four pitches in the sixth. McConnell hitting a bouncing ball to short on a 1-2 count, beating the throw to first base. On the first pitch in her at bat, Salzman crushed a ball to left-center field, bringing the final score to 8-0.
 
Kyra Lair was outstanding in the circle for the Lady Buffs as the senior threw six scoreless innings while striking out nine and walking none.
 
WT faces a quick turnaround when the Lady Buffs face off against the Hilltoppers of St. Edward's on Tuesday, April 11. The three-game series starts with a 1 p.m. game followed by a 3 p.m. contest. The Lady Buffs and 'Toppers wrap up the series on Wednesday with a. 12 p.m. first pitch.