CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M softball posted a pair of home victories over longtime Lone Star Conference opponent Midwestern State on Thursday afternoon in Canyon. In game one, a big inning at the plate propelled the Lady Buffs to a 5-1 win. Game two saw WT stop a late Mustangs' comeback for a 3-2 victory.
 
With the wins, the Lady Buffs improve to 38-2 on the season with a 28-2 mark in Lone Star Conference play while Midwestern State falls to 14-25 and 11-19 in league play.
 
The two teams rematch and finish the home-and-home series on Saturday in Wichita Falls with a 2 p.m. first pitch at Mustang Park.
 
THE BASICS:
Game 1 Score: #2 West Texas A&M 5, Midwestern State 1
Pitching: (W) Emilee Boyer (19-1); (L) Kayleigh Bowers (4-5)
The Lady Buffs and Mustangs posted zeroes on the board in the first two innings, combining for one base runner during that time. In the bottom of the third, the WT lineup broke up the scoreless draw. A Kendall Selitzky single up the middle moved to second on a throwing error by the Midwestern State shortstop. A double down the line off Lauren Granger scored Selitzky and moved Emily Liskai into scoring position where Kiley Avery singled in another run. After a sacrifice fly from Abby Howell scored pinch-runner Lily Mulder, Emilee Boyer launched her 16^th home run of the season to make the score 5-0.
 
The five-run lead held for WT until the top of the seventh when Addison Lindemann hit a solo home run with one out in the top of the seventh inning. Boyer earned the win in the circle, pitching seven innings with 12 strikeouts, one walk, and one earned run.
 
THE BASICS:
Game 2 Score: #2 West Texas A&M 3, Midwestern State 2
Pitching: (W) Kendall Selitzky (7-0); (L) Addison Lindemann (6-12); (S) Emilee Boyer (1)
Kendall Selitzky started the game with an efficient four-pitch inning to sit Midwestern State down in order. The Lady Buffs jumped out to an early lead as Granger powered a solo home run to leadoff the bottom of the first inning.
 
WT added to its lead in the bottom of the second inning when Halie Stoneking doubled down the left field line. A Trinity Kuntz walk put two on, but Addison Lindemann struck out the next two hitters. With two outs, Granger dropped a single into right field to score Stoneking from second base.
 
Midwestern State looked to have a run in the top of the third inning when a single and an error put runners on first and third with no outs. On a sacrifice bunt from Myranda Jimenez, the runner from third came in to score. After the play ended, a replay review determined the runner on first left early, negating the run at the plate and putting an out on the board. WT would escape the inning without allowing a run.
 
The Lady Buffs would add a run in the fifth on a pair of hits and a walk. With one out, Avery would beat out an infield single followed by a walk from Howell. On a 1-0 count, Boyer sent a deep fly ball to center field. Boyer nearly cleared the bases with a home run, but the ball landed on the wall and came back into play for an RBI single.
 
The Mustangs would break up the shutout in the top of the sixth as a leadoff walk gave Midwestern State life. After a pair of outs, a stolen base moved the Mustangs' runner into scoring position. A bloop single into left brought home Midwestern State's first run where a single up the middle on the next pitch brought the game back within one.
 
In the seventh, a leadoff single from Mikey Dominguez forced a Lady Buffs pitching change. With the runner on first, Boyer entered the game and struck out the next two batters to set up a groundout to third to end the game.