CANYON, Texas – The No. 9-ranked West Texas A&M softball team defended its home field in impressive fashion, taking down No. 7 Colorado Christian 10-0 in six innings. The Lady Buffs, 50-6 overall, end the 2023 season with a 28-1 record at Schaeffer Park.
 
The Lady Buffs opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a pair of runs. Ruby Salzman started the streak with a double down the left field line. Salzman advanced to third on a wild pitch before Emilee Boyer walked. After Boyer reached first, Ruby Moore entered the game to pinch run. Moore promptly stole second during Diana Murtha's at bat. With the two runners on, Murtha lined a single into left field to score Salzman. On the same play, Moore appeared to be stopped at second but a bobble in left allowed her to come home and score.
 
In the bottom of the second, Julie Guzman dropped a ball into left field that the CCU left fielder couldn't secure on a diving attempt. The ball kicked into the gap where Guzman turned on the jets to motor her way to third base. On the first pitch of her at bat, Braeland Booth laid down a squeeze bunt, allowing Guzman to score and Booth to reach first.
 
An inning later, WT added to its lead once again. A leadoff single from Murtha gave the Lady Buffs a runner on base. Gabriella Valforte ripped a ball into the right-center that missed going over the fence by a matter of inches. The double moved Murtha to third where Guzman lifted a sacrifice fly to center field and extend the WT lead to 4-0.
 
In the fourth, the Lady Buffs put numbers on the board once again. Brittni Rufus worked a leadoff walk for WT to bring McConnell up with no outs. McConnell went the other way, dropping a single into left and moving Rufus to third. After watching a ball go by, Salzman launched a three-run home run to center field.
 
Needing just one run to end the game early, McConnell singled through the right side to put the winning run on first base. Salzman followed with a walk to put two runners on base for Boyer where she lifted a fly ball to right field, allowing McConnell to use her speed and advance to third. The Lady Buffs found the decisive run they were looking for when Murtha connected for a walk-off three-run home run over the left field foul pole.
 
WT moves on to the Super Regionals where they face Lone Star Conference champion and No. 3-ranked UT Tyler. All three games will be in Tyler, Texas with times to be determined.