CANYON, Texas – A pair of solo home runs and a complete-game shutout from
Ashley Mandell lifted the West Texas A&M softball team to a 2-0 victory over the St. Edward's Hilltoppers. The win completed the series sweep of St. Edward's and improved the Lady Buffs' record to 38-4 overall and 30-3 in Lone Star Conference action.
After a scoreless top of the first,
Lauren Granger started the home half of the inning with a bang. The sophomore cranked a 2-1 pitch to the opposite field, clearing the fence and giving WT a 1-0 lead. Following the home run, the Lady Buffs held St. Edward's quiet until the top of the fourth when the Hilltoppers created traffic on the bases. In the inning, St. Edward's used a single and fielder's choice to put runners on first and second with one out. Mandell escaped the inning as a line drive to first deflected off the glove of
Gabriella Valforte to
Heaven Moreno. Moreno completed the catch before tossing the ball to Valforte at first for the double play.
The Hilltoppers threatened to score once again in the top of the fifth as back-to-back singles with one out put pressure on the WT defense. After a strikeout from Mandell in the circle, St. Edward's loaded the bases with another infield single. With two outs in the inning,
Emily Liskai made a diving catch in right to keep the lead intact. The two teams went scoreless in their next at bat, sending the game to the bottom of the sixth with a 1-0 score line.
In the bottom of the sixth,
Diana Murtha broke the scoreless streak when the senior infielder blasted a 0-1 pitch over the fence in center field. Needing three outs to complete the sweep, Mandell went back out for the final inning. The freshman right-hander struck out the first hitter before forcing a groundout. St. Edward's made things interesting as the Hilltoppers put runners on the bases after a single and fielding error by WT. Mandell didn't let the pressure rattler her, forcing a flyout to Rufus in center to end the game.
The Lady Buffs hit the road to take on Texas A&M International in Laredo, Texas this weekend. The series is scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 12 p.m. followed by a single game on Sunday at 12 p.m.
