LAWTON, Okla. – The West Texas A&M softball team collected 15 hits in its series-finale victory over the Cameron Aggies on Sunday. With the 10-3 victory, the Lady Buffs win the series and improve to 43-5 overall with a 35-4 mark in Lone Star Conference play.
WT struck first with a run in the first as
Lauren Granger started the game with a double into the gap. With one out,
Emilee Boyer singled down the left-field line to score Granger. Cameron limited the damage after the run, stranding a runner on first. The Aggies threatened to score immediately as the lead-off hitter walked to start the inning. After a stolen base and an infield single, Boyer held the runner at third on a grounder right back to her. Cameron then cashed in as Madison Boutwell singled up the middle to plate two. The Lady Buffs erased the base runner as a snap throw from
Braeland Booth behind the plate picked off Boutwell at first.
WT regained the advantage in the second as
Gabriella Valforte singled to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt and a line out, Cameron looked to be in position to escape the inning. With one swing of the bat, the Lady Buffs jumped ahead as
Emily Liskai lifted a two-run blast to center field on a 1-0 count, flipping the lineup over. After the home run, back-to-back singles from Granger and
Brittni Rufus put runners on the corners with two outs. Boyer helped her cause in the circle as the sophomore jumped on a pitch, sending it out of the park and extending the lead to 6-2.
After a scoreless top of the third, Cameron got a run back in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run to center. A one-out walked forced Boyer out of the circle where
Ashley Mandell entered the game where she retired the next two hitters to end the inning.
The next two innings turned to be a pitcher's duel as Cameron's Stormee Reed and Mandell continued to deal in the circle. In the top of the sixth, Boyer broke the string of scoreless frames. After Rufus reached on an infield single, the center fielder stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. With a 2-1 count Boyer powered an inside pitch over the wall in left for her second home run of the game and give WT an 8-3 advantage.
The Lady Buffs added to their lead in the top of the seventh as Valforte lined a ball over the left-field wall. Following the home run, Mandell reached on a one-out single followed by an RBI double to right-center field from Liskai. In the bottom of the seventh, the Aggies loaded the bases on an error and pair of walks to put pressure on the WT defense. Cameron scored a run on the sacrifice fly from the next batter before back-to-back bloop singles plated two. With runners on first and second, Mandell recorded a strikeout before a fly out to right ended the game.
Mandell (10-0) received the win after throwing 4.2, allowing three runs on five hits with a pair of strikeouts. Jocelyn Bright took the loss after throwing 1.2 innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits.
The Lady Buffs end the regular season at home with a three-game set against No. 22 Angelo State. WT hosts the Rambelles at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 26. Saturday sees the two teams battle at 1 and 3 p.m. with Senior Day festivities to follow.
