PORTALES, N.M. – Strong hitting from the West Texas A&M softball team powered the Lady Buffs to a doubleheader sweep over rival Eastern New Mexico on Friday. The Lady Buffs pulled away late in game one for a 7-2 victory before slugging their way to a 14-1 run-rule victory over the Greyhounds.
 
WT improves to 34-2 overall on the year and 24-2 in Lone Star Conference play while Eastern New Mexico falls to 20-16 overall and 13-13 in league play.
 
The Lady Buffs finish out their Land of Enchantment visit at Western New Mexico on Sunday, March 30.
 
THE BASICS:
Game 1 Score: #3 West Texas A&M 7, Eastern New Mexico 2
Pitching: (W) Emilee Boyer (17-1); (L) Marissa Rodriguez (5-7)
The Lady Buffs converted their first trip to the plate with a run to open the game. After a leadoff single from Lauren Granger and a walk from Kiley Avery, Abby Howell laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners. With the pair in scoring position, Emilee Boyer lifted a fly ball into left where pinch-runner Lily Mulder looked to score. The throw to the plate barely beat Mulder, but the Greyhounds' catcher was called for obstruction to score the run.
 
WT held its one-run lead until the bottom of the third where Eastern New Mexico tied the game. With two outs, a double to center from Aylene Lucero followed by a single up the middle from Valeria Contreras tied the score.
 
The Lady Buffs would take the lead in the top of the sixth as an Avery single moved to third on Howell's double to the gap. With two strikes, Boyer lifted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring the go-ahead run and advancing Howell to third. WT extended its lead a batter later when Cadence blasted a no-doubter out of Greyhound Field. Eastern New Mexico would get a run back in the bottom of the inning when an RBI single from Alondra Vasquez drove in Christina Meneses from second base.
 
WT blew the game open in the top of the seventh on the long ball. Emily Liskai and Granger combined to go back-to-back with solo shots to start the frame. After a flyout to right field, Abby Howell launched another solo home run to right center, extending the Lady Buffs' lead to 7-2.
 
THE BASICS:
Game 2 Score: #3 West Texas A&M 14, Eastern New Mexico 1
Pitching: (W) Heidi Vortherms (10-1); (L) Miranda Guillen (7-5)
Granger continued WT's hot streak at the plate as the junior catcher blasted the first pitch of game two out over the center field wall. Eastern New Mexico wouldn't let the Lady Buffs lead for long as a leadoff single advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. The Greyhounds would drive in the run on the next batter on an RBI single to center from Meneses.
 
The long ball helped the Lady Buffs once again in the third inning as Liskai hit her second home run of the day to start the frame. A walk from Granger followed by sacrifice bunt and groundout moved Granger to third base where Boyer connected for a no-doubter on the first pitch of her at bat.
 
WT added to its lead in the top of the seventh when three walks loaded the bases. A fielder's choice gave Eastern New Mexico an out without the Lady Buffs scoring, but Howell followed with a single up the middle to score two runs. After a Boyer walk loaded the bases once again, the Greyhounds went to the bullpen for a pitching change. Heaven Moreno welcomed the new pitcher with a bases-clearing triple to right. Colborn, serving as a pinch-hitter, ripped a double into the gap to bring the WT lead up to 10-1.
 
With the bases loaded in the fifth inning, Howell singled to center field with one out to drive in two more and bring the Lady Buffs' lead up to 12-1. Boyer followed with an RBI single of her own to score another followed by an RBI groundout from Moreno. Moreno would come up clutch in the bottom of the fifth as the junior shortstop made three incredible defensive plays to end the game.