OKLAHOMA CITY – The West Texas A&M softball team won its fifth straight Lone Star Conference series and 18^th game in a row on Saturday with a pair of wins over the Eagles of Oklahoma Christian. In game one, an RBI single in the sixth from Megan Guericke brought home the game-winning run in a 2-1 thriller. Game two saw the Lady Buffs use a strong third inning to post an 8-0 run-rule victory.

The Lady Buffs (22-1, 14-0 LSC) and Eagles (14-11, 10-7 LSC) meet at 12 p.m. for the series finale at Tom Heath Field in Oklahoma City.
 
THE BASICS
Game 1 Score: West Texas A&M 2, Oklahoma Christian 1
Pitching: (W) Heidi Vortherms (11-0); (L) Jill Dickson (7-3)
 
The Eagles and Lady Buffs threatened to score early in the game, but neither team could bring in the game's first run through two innings. After a scoreless top of the third from WT, Oklahoma Christian leadoff hitter Brooklin Bain lined a solo home run over the right-field fence. The Lady Buffs looked to answer in the top of the fourth as Diana Murtha reached first on a hit-by-pitch with two outs. Madison Johnson followed with a walk, setting up a pair of base runners in the inning. Needing an out to escape the threat, Eagles' starter Jill Dickson forced a pop out to second base off the bat of Heaven Moreno to retire the WT order.
 
OC produced a scoring threat of its own in the home half of the fourth as a leadoff walk moved to second on a one-out single. With runners on first and second, Heidi Vortherms got Kylie Janzen to roll into an inning-ending double play. The Lady Buffs used the momentum to tie up the game in the top of the fifth as Braeland Booth reached on a hit-by-pitch of her own. After a pop out, pinch-hitter Gabriella Valforte walked to put another runner on. With pinch-runner Kiley Avery on second, Emily Liskai returned to the lineup to run at first. Lauren Granger lifted a flyout to center, but a great catch kept the runners from advancing. Brittni Rufus came through for WT as the senior dropped a single into left, allowing Avery to score from second and tie the game.
 
In the sixth, the Lady Buffs took their first lead of the game as a hit-by-pitch and error put runners on first and second with one out. A bunt single from Moreno loaded the bases for Booth. Looking to execute the squeeze, Booth offered at the pitch with Murtha hung up in the base paths. After the throw got away and Murtha scored, the umpires ruled Booth interfered with the play, negating the run. As the Eagles looked to escape the situation and keep the game tied, Megan Guericke lined a single into center to officially score Murtha. Looking for another run on the play, Johnson came around third, but the throw beat Johnson to the plate.
 
Oklahoma Christian attempted to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Vortherms walked the bases loaded with one out. With the infield brought in to cut down the run at the plate, Murtha snagged a line drive at third to give WT its second out. After the out, Emilee Boyer came out of the bullpen to take over in the circle. The sophomore forced a fielder's choice at second to keep the Lady Buffs ahead by a run.
 
In the seventh, Vortherms returned to the circle with the opportunity to finish what she started. The Sioux Falls, S.D. native settled in with a clean inning including a game-ending strikeout to seal the game-one win.
 
THE BASICS
Game 2 Score: West Texas A&M 8, Oklahoma Christian 0 (5 Inn.)
Pitching: (W) Emilee Boyer (10-1); (L) Grace Anderson (7-5)
 
After a slow start to the first game, the Lady Buffs scored first in the second game of the doubleheader. Lauren Granger and Rufus started the game with back-to-back singles before Emilee Boyer grounded into a fielder's choice. After Boyer stole second, Murtha walked to load the bases. Madison Johnson cashed in on the opportunity as the senior lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring pinch-runner Kiley Avery.
 
WT added to its lead in the third as Tatem Pendergraft walked to start the inning. After being held hitless in game one, Granger doubled into the left-center gap. Rufus followed with a fielder's choice to first where Pendergraft slid in safely, but Rufus was retired trying to steal second on the play. Boyer helped her own cause when the sophomore powered a home run to the opposite field to double the lead. With two outs in the inning, Valforte doubled in a run before coming around to score on Moreno's RBI single.
 
In the fourth, another lead-off walk from Pendergraft put a runner on for Granger. The sophomore catcher registered her third hit of the game as Granger dropped a ball into the right-field corner and hustled around to third for a triple, leaving her a home run short of the cycle. On the next pitch, Rufus doubled into the corner, pushing the lead to 8-0.
 
Boyer finished the game by escaping a bases-loaded jam to close out a complete game.