CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M softball completed its regular season home schedule with a pair of wins, defeating Sul Ross State in a Lone Star Conference doubleheader. The Lady Buffs dominated the Lobos in game one with a 12-0 run-rule victory followed by a 5-0 shutout in game two.
 
With the pair of wins, WT improves to 48-2 on the season and 38-2 in Lone Star Conference play. The doubleheader sweep also secures the LSC West Division title for the Lady Buffs and a spot in the Lone Star Conference Tournament on May 1-3.
 
WT closes out the regular season on the road against LSC divisional opponents. The Lady Buffs travel down I-27 on Friday, April 25 for a doubleheader against Lubbock Christian before traveling to San Angelo for a regular-season finale against No. 7 Angelo State.
 
THE BASICS:
Game 1 Score: #1 West Texas A&M 12, Sul Ross State 0 (5 Inn.)
Pitching: (W) Heidi Vortherms (16-1); (L) Leanza Chambers (2-17)
Senior pitcher Heidi Vortherms opened the game with a spark, striking out the side to open game one. The momentum built in the bottom inning as Lauren Granger blasted a no-doubter to left field on a 1-0 count. After the home run, Kiley Avery reached on a four-pitch walk followed by a one-out walk to Emilee Boyer. The pair of base runners came around to score when Heaven Moreno pulled a double down the left-field line.
 
After scoring three runs in the first, the Lady Buffs posted three more runs in the bottom of the second. The inning started with an error on the Lobos' first baseman, allowing Riley Stiner to reach. Sul Ross State recorded a pair of outs as the Lobos looked to post a scoreless frame. The error allowed Trinity Kuntz to double to the gap, scoring Stiner from first. An Avery walk and Abby Howell single to left loaded the bases for Boyer who forced in a run with a walk. Moreno recorded her third RBI of the game when the junior shortstop legged out an infield single to third base.
 
WT would put the game away in the third inning with six runs on five hits. The inning started with a lead-off triple from Stiner followed by a walk to Avery Cannon. Cannon stole second where a two-RBI double from Emily Liskai brought the lead to 8-0. After a Sul Ross State pitching change, Kuntz welcomed the new pitcher with a liner into left field. With one out in the frame, Howell powered a double to deep center field to score Kuntz and Liskai. Boyer reached base on her third walk of the game leading to a double down the right-field line from Moreno, capping the scoring at 12-0.
 
THE BASICS:
Game 2 Score: #1 West Texas A&M 5, Sul Ross State 0
Pitching: (W) Emilee Boyer (24-1); (L) Alyvia Quintana (5-14)
Game two started in the same fashion as WT starter Emilee Boyer struck out the side in the top of the first followed by three Lady Buff runs in the bottom of the inning. Granger began the inning with a lead-off walk where a bunt single from Avery put two runners on. A Howell walk loaded the bases for Boyer. The junior slugger drew another walk from the SRSU pitching staff to drive in a run. Cadence Colborn brought home a run when the freshman grounded out to first, allowing Avery to cross home. Moreno would follow Colborn's lead by bringing home a run on a groundout.
 
The Lady Buffs would plate a run in the third when Boyer started the inning with a double to center. A fly out moved Boyer up to third where Lily Mulder replaced Boyer on the bases. During Moreno's at-bat, Mulder executed a straight steal of home to extend the lead to 4-0.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, a lead-off single from Moreno followed by a one-out error and Liskai single loaded the bases. Granger drove in WT's fifth run when the junior catcher grounded out to third base.
 
Boyer recorded the win in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout with two hits, a walk, and 13 strikeouts.