CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M softball started Lone Star Conference play with a doubleheader sweep of the St. Edward's Hilltoppers. With the pair of wins, the Lady Buffs improve to 12-0 overall on the season and 2-0 in conference play.
 
WT remains at home for a doubleheader against St. Mary's on Sunday, Feb. 16. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Schaeffer Park.
 
THE BASICS
Game 1 Score: #11 West Texas A&M 8, St. Edward's 1
Pitching: (W) Emilee Boyer (6-0); (L) Lisette Urquidez (2-2)
After a scoreless first inning, WT broke open the scoring in the bottom of the second. Emilee Boyer started the inning with a hit by pitch followed by back-to-back singles from Heaven Moreno and Halie Stoneking to load the bases. After a fielder's choice cut down Boyer at the plate, Avery Cannon ripped a first-pitch single right up the middle to score a pair. Two pitches later, Emily Liskai cleared the bases as the sophomore outfielder launched her first home run of the season.
 
The Lady Buffs added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth as one-out single from Kiley Avery set up a moonshot off the bat of Abby Howell, clearing the batting cages in left field. St. Edward's broke up the shutout in the top of the sixth as leadoff single and an error allowed a run to come home.
 
Kendall Selitzky finished the game in the top of the seventh as the freshman forced a 1-2-3 inning.
 
Game 2 Score:  #11 West Texas A&M 8, St. Edward's 3
Pitching: (W) Heidi Vortherms (5-0); (L) Haley Carmona (1-2)
The Hilltoppers matched their scoring total from game one in the top of the first of game two. Katie Dillon started the game with a single before swiping second, setting up an RBI double from Sofia Aponte. After allowing the run, Heidi Vortherms struck out the next three batters to end the side.
 
In the bottom of the first, a pair of free base runners put pressure on the St. Edward's defense. With a 3-0 count, Boyer crushed a pitch over the center field wall to put WT up 3-1.
 
The advantage grew in the bottom of the second inning when a Cannon walk came around to score on a Liskai RBI triple in the gap. Granger recorded the Lady Buffs' fifth run on a fielder's choice where Liskai slid around the tag at the plate. Later in the inning, Howell recorded her second two-run home run of the series as the freshman lined a ball over the left field wall.
 
St. Edward's cut the lead down to six in the top of the sixth when a leadoff double moved to third on a groundout. The Hilltoppers plated the run when Jerzie Pelham beat out an infield single. Audrie Castillo followed with a single of her own, putting runners on first and third. As St. Edward's looked to gain momentum, Vortherms ended the frame with a popout to Trinity Kuntz at catcher.
 
The Hilltoppers added another run in the top of the seventh off reliever Ashley Mandell. A single and fielder's choice placed a runner on second with two outs. A double into the gap from Lauren Hoyt brought the score to 8-3. Before St. Edward's could try to mount a comeback, Mandell ended the game with a strikeout.