CANYON, Texas – The Lone Star Conference series opener between No. 1-ranked West Texas A&M and No. 22 Angelo State didn't disappoint fans on Friday night at Schaeffer Park. In a game that went back-and-forth, the Lady Buffs took a late lead to defeat the Rambelles, 7-6.
 
With the win, WT remains at the top of the Lone Star Conference standings with a record of 44-5 and 36-4 in conference play. A win from the Lady Buffs tomorrow will clinch at least a share of the Lone Star Conference regular season title while two wins would clinch the title outright.
 
After an out on the first pitch of the game, Angelo State struck first as a double to center set up an RBI triple to the gap from Tatiana Trotter. With a runner on third and one out, the Rambelles brought in a run on an infield single. After the runs, WT starter Emilee Boyer retired the side on a strikeout. In the bottom of the first, the Lady Buffs looked to get the bats going as Lauren Granger ripped a single into left field. Brittni Rufus followed with an infield single of her own, setting up runners on first and second with no outs. Angelo State slowed the WT momentum with a double play before a walk put Diana Murtha on. The Rambelles escaped the inning without allowing a run as Madison Johnson popped out to short.
 
Angelo State added to its lead in the second as a one-out single put a runner on. With two outs, a single to left from Averie Gunther moved to third with a Lady Buff error on the play while scoring the Rambelles' third run of the game. An infield single stretched the lead to 4-0 before Boyer forced a fly out to center field. WT got a run back as a two-out walk followed by a double from Emily Liskai set up an RBI infield single from Granger.
 
In the fourth, the Lady Buffs chipped away at the lead with no outs as Gabriella Valforte started the hitting with a double down the right-field line. A bunt single from Heaven Moreno moved Valforte to third. After Halie Stoneking entered the game to pinch run, Megan Guericke doubled to right center, scoring Stoneking and cutting into the lead. On the next hitter, Liskai recorded her second double of the game to tie the game at four. After an Angelo State pitching change, Granger singled into left field to score Liskai and give the Lady Buffs their first lead of the game.
 
Angelo State tied the game in the top of the sixth as an infield single put a runner on to start the inning. The Rambelles brought home the runner on the next batter as Erin Plunkett doubled off the left-filed wall. With the go-ahead run on second and no outs, Boyer forced a grounder back to the circle for an out, but the runner moved to third on the play. A grounder to second gave WT a second out, but Angelo State took the lead back as a triple went to the wall.
 
Down 6-5 entering the bottom of the sixth, Rufus drew a leadoff walk. On the first pitch of her at bat, Boyer lined a ball into the gap to score Rufus from first. A walk from Murtha set up runners on first and second where Angelo State registered its first out on a strikeout. Both runners moved up a base on a passed ball, putting the go-ahead run on third. The Lady Buffs regained the lead as Valforte put one on the ground to second. The Rambelles elected to try and throw out pinch-runner Tatem Pendergraft at home, but the throw wasn't in time as the Lady Buffs took a 7-6 advantage. After WT loaded the bases, a leaping catch from the Angelo State centerfielder ended the inning with the bases loaded.
 
In the top of the seventh, Boyer started the side with a huge strikeout before forcing a fly out to center. After a two-out walk, the sophomore right-hander got a first-pitch groundout to end the game.   
 
The two teams return to Schaeffer Park for a 1 p.m. doubleheader. Following the game, WT will celebrate Senior Day.