LAREDO, Texas – West Texas A&M softball swept its ninth Lone Star Conference series sweep on Sunday with a 4-0 victory over Texas A&M International. The Lady Buffs improve to 41-4 overall on the season with a 33-3 mark in league play.
 
WT started its scoring in the opening frame as Lauren Granger started the game by reaching on an error. After Granger was lifted for pinch-runner Kiley Avery, Brittni Rufus doubled to the gap, putting two runners in scoring position. Emilee Boyer plated the first run as the sophomore grounded out to short before Diana Murtha lifted a sacrifice fly to right. The two runs would be all for the Lady Buffs in the inning.
 
After being held quiet by Ashley Mandell most of the game, Texas A&M International threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. Mandell recorded a pair of quick outs before the Dustdevils hit a single and double to put two on. Needing an out to escape the pressure, Mandell locked in and forced a ground ball to get out of the inning.
 
The Lady Buffs doubled their lead in the top of the fifth when Heaven Moreno and Emily Liskai singled. With two outs, Rufus singled to score pinch-runner Halie Stoneking from third. WT brought in its second run of the inning when Boyer reached on an error from the Dustdevils, allowing Liskai to cross home.
 
Texas A&M International put runners on the base paths once again in the sixth inning as a leadoff single followed by a walk chased Mandell from the game. With runners on, Heidi Vortherms entered the game where the junior struck out the first batter she saw. Vortherms then forced a pair of groundouts to end the inning.
 
Mandell received the win to improve to 9-0 after five scoreless innings, scattering seven hits with a strikeout. Vortherms capped off the game with two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk with two strikeouts.