CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M softball team recorded a pair of one-run victories against Texas A&M International on Saturday, stealing the games 2-1 and 1-0 at Dustdevil Field. The Lady Buffs improve to 40-4 on the season and 32-3 in Lone Star Conference play to stay atop the LSC standings with seven games to play.
 
The Lady Buffs and Dustdevils finish out their three-game series tomorrow at 12 p.m. in Laredo.
 
THE BASICS
Game 1 Score: West Texas A&M 2, Texas A&M International 1
Pitching: (W) Emilee Boyer (18-1); (L) Carla Arellano (2-12)
 
The two teams went scoreless through the first two innings before WT took the lead in the top of the third inning. With one out in the inning, Lauren Granger singled to left before being lifted for pinch-runner Kiley Avery. Avery would steal second in Emilee Boyer's at bat before Boyer drove in the run with a two-run home run on a 3-2 pitch. Texas A&M International got a run back in the bottom of the inning as a one-out single advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. The Dustdevils drove in the run with the next hitter singling to center.
 
That would be all the offense for game one as WT threatened to score in the following innings but couldn't' t scratch across additional runs. As for Boyer in the circle, the sophomore hurler was lights out, retiring the next 13 hitters without allowing a base runner.
 
THE BASICS
Game 2 Score: West Texas A&M 1, Texas A&M International 0
Pitching: (W) Heidi Vortherms (14-3); (L) Kylie Goad (7-6)
 
Game two started the same way as game one with neither team finding the offense early. Through the first three innings of the game, WT and TAMIU combined for just three hits without scoring a run. The Dustdevils looked to score in the bottom of the fourth as a one-out walk moved to second on a single to left. After a wild pitch, TAMIU put runners on second and third with two outs, threatening to take the lead. Heidi Vortherms settled in following the wild pitch to strikeout the batter and keep the game scoreless.
 
After being held quiet for five innings, Rufus turned the game into the favor of the Lady Buffs in the top of the sixth. On a 1-0 count, the senior outfielder connected with a pitch, blasting the ball over the wall to give WT the game's first lead. Following the home run, Boyer reached on an error followed by a Diana Murtha walk. The Lady Buffs couldn't do anything with the pair of baserunners as TAMIU escaped the inning with just the lone run.
 
In the seventh, WT looked to add to its lead as Gabriella Valforte started the inning with a walk. After a pop out and fielder's choice, pinch-runner Halie Stoneking advanced to second on a passed ball. With a Lady Buff insurance run in scoring position, the Dustdevils retired the side. In TAMIU's final chance to tie or win the game, Vortherms struck out the leadoff hitter before a single put the tying run on base. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position, but Vortherms reestablished the strike zone to catch the final hitter looking.