TYLER, Texas – The No. 9 West Texas A&M softball team fell to No. 3-ranked UT Tyler 6-5 in game one of the South Central Super Regionals in Tyler, Texas on Thursday afternoon. A five-run second inning for the Patriots proved to be the difference in the game.
 
Both teams threatened to score in the first inning with WT leaving two on and UT Tyler leaving three on. The Lady Buffs took the game's first lead when pinch hitter Gabriella Valforte singled up the middle to start the inning. Valforte moved up when Julie Guzman drew a walk in the next at bat. After a Braeland Booth sacrifice bunt, Brittni Rufus chopped a ball down the first base line. Although Rufus was out on the play, Valforte came home to score the go-ahead run. The Patriots responded in the bottom half of the inning as UT Tyler loaded the bases with one out. At the end of the inning, the Patriots plated five runs on five hits and three WT walks.
 
The Lady Buffs cut the lead in half in the top of the third after Emilee Boyer reached first on a hit-by-pitch. The one-out base runner came around to score when Diana Murtha connected for a two-run shot to left center field. In the home half, UT Tyler matched WT's home run with a solo shot, bringing the score to 6-3.
 
Needing three runs to keep the game going, Gabie McConnell started the seventh inning with a hot shot the UT Tyler second baseman couldn't handle. The error proved costly as Ruby Salzman launched a two-run home run over the right-center fence to cut the deficit down to one. The home run forced a call to the bullpen for the Patriots. After the pitching change, the Lady Buffs made solid contact against the UT Tyler relief pitcher but couldn't find gaps in the defense to keep the game going.
 
WT rematches with UT Tyler tomorrow at 3 p.m. for game two of the series. The Lady Buffs need to win two games to keep their NCAA Championship dreams alive.