CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M softball opened its home schedule with a pair of wins at Schaeffer Park on Friday, Feb. 9. With the wins over CSU Pueblo and UCCS, the Lady Buffs improve to 6-1 overall.
 
THE BASICS
Game 1 Score: West Texas A&M 16, CSU Pueblo 1
Pitching: (W) Heidi Vortherms (3-0); (L) Jacelynn Trujillo (1-1)
 
Serving as the visiting team in game one, the Lady Buffs start the game with a bang, scoring 11 runs on eight hits and one CSU Pueblo error. Lauren Granger and Brittni Rufus both reached safely before three straight hits scored four runs. After a strikeout, a bunt single from Braeland Booth scored Madison Johnson. A double down the line from Megan Guericke forced a ThunderWolves pitching change. A popout gave CSU Pueblo a second out but couldn't slow the WT momentum. Back-to-back triples from Granger and Rufus scored three more runs as Rufus came around to score on an error. After Emillee Boyer walked, Diana Murtha homered to center field, closing the scoring in the top of the first.
 
In the third inning, Rufus reached on an error with one out before stealing second and advancing to third on a ground out. After Diana Murtha walked, Murtha attempted to steal second but got caught in a rundown. Before the out was recorded, Rufus came into score and extend the advantage to 12-0. In the home half of the inning, CSU Pueblo got a run back as Zoie Armstrong lined a home run over the center field fence.
 
In the fourth, the Lady Buffs added yet another run as Booth homered off the scoreboard in center with two outs. WT added three more in the fifth when Kiley Avery and Hailie Stoneking reached to start the inning. The pair came around to score when Riley Stiner blasted a home run over the left-field bleachers to cap off the scoring.  
 
THE BASICS
Game 2 Score: West Texas A&M 7, UCCS 0
Pitching: (W) Emilee Boyer (3-1); Autumn Kunze (2-1)
 
After a scoreless top of the first, Granger started the inning with a double off the left field wall. The Mountain Lions recorded a pair of outs to bring up Murtha. The senior flied a ball into the gap where the left fielder couldn't get there in time and the ball deflected off her glove. The drop allowed Murtha to race to third and score Granger. On the very next pitch, Murtha came into score on a wild pitch.
 
The 2-0 score held up until the bottom of the fourth where WT loaded the bases with no outs. A line drive off the fence by Guericke brought in two runs and doubled the Lady Buff lead. After Boyer posted a clean inning in the circle, a walk and a single put two runners on with two outs for Booth. The senior catcher took advantage of the situation by doubling off the wall in left, bringing the score to 6-0.
 
An inning later, Granger started the inning with a walk before Rufus reached on a fielder's choice swapped the two on the base paths. After Boyer walked, the Lady Buffs executed a double steal to set up a second and third situation for Murtha. On a 2-2 count, Murtha skied a ball into center field for a sacrifice fly.
 
Holding a 7-0 lead, WT turned to Ashley Mandell to close out the game. Mandell recorded two outs before allowing a single, closing the game out on a flyout to left field.