CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M softball clinched its Lone Star Conference series against Lubbock Christian, taking the final game of the series by a score of 6-2. The Lady Buffs improve to 35-4 overall and 27-3 in league play while Lubbock Christian falls to 19-15 overall and 18-12 in LSC action.
 
Lubbock Christian struck first in the top of the opening frame. WT starting pitcher Emilee Boyer struck out the first two hitters of the inning looking, but Skyler Herrera powered a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left-center field. Boyer retired the next hitter on a ground out to first to bring the Lady Buffs to the plate for the first time.
 
WT tied the game in the bottom of the first as Brittni Rufus beat out an infield single to second with one out. After Rufus moved to second on a fielder's choice, Diana Murtha doubled into the right-center gap, scoring Rufus easily.
 
The Lady Buffs tacked on two more runs with the help of some aggressive base running. A Gabriella Valforte single started the inning before Heaven Moreno laid down a bunt single on the first-base line. Following the singles, Kiley Avery came in to run for Valforte, promptly stealing third. Now with runners on first and third, Halie Stoneking pinch ran for Moreno. Stoneking initiated a rundown on her way to second, allowing Avery to score while Stoneking reached second. A walk from Megan Guericke put another runner on the bases where Emily Liskai grounded into a fielder's choice. WT used the first-and-third tactic once again, but Liskai got tagged out on the way to second. Before the Lady Chaps tagged out Liskai, Stoneking crossed the plate and pushed the lead to 3-1.
 
LCU got a run back in the top of the fourth as Herrera belted a one-out double into the gap. Herrera came around to score two pitches later when Hope Banales singled to left. Another single from the Lady Chaps put pressure on Boyer and the WT defense, but Boyer worked around the jam to keep a one-run lead intact.
 
The Lady Buffs extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth after Liskai started the inning with a double down the right-field line. After taking three balls in a row, Lauren Granger connected with a pitch, lining the ball over the left-field wall for a two-run ball game. Lubbock Christian threatened once again in the top of the sixth after loading the bases with two outs, but Boyer recorded a huge strikeout to end the scoring opportunity.  
 
The Lady Buffs added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Valforte singled to start the inning before moving to second on a ground out. During Liskai's at-bat, Valforte advanced to third on a wild pitch. Before Liskai grounded out to short, Valforte came home to score on another wild pitch.
 
Holding a 6-2 lead, Boyer started the inning with a strikeout before a pair of ground outs to Madison Johnson at short.
 
The Lady Buffs face a quick turnaround as WT hosts St. Edward's for a three-game series starting at 4 p.m. tomorrow.