TYLER, Texas – West Texas A&M softball saw its season come to an end on Friday evening in Tyler, Texas. The Lady Buffs fought hard but couldn't come up with a needed win to keep the season alive. WT ends its season with a 56-8 record and a share of the Lone Star Conference regular season title.
 
THE BASICS
Game 1 Score: #1 UT Tyler 10, #3 West Texas A&M 0 (5 Inn.)
Pitching: (W) Primrose Aholelei (17-1); (L) Kendall Selitzky (7-1)
UT Tyler plated the game's first run in the top of the second when Abbie Behe drew a lead-off walk. A sacrifice bunt moved pinch-runner Keona Wells into scoring position where a two-out single from Miia Campos scored Wells. After a walk, a single to right field off the bat of JT Smith extended the lead to 2-0. Still with two outs, Ka'Lyn Watson blasted a no-doubter over the scoreboard to push the lead to 5-0.
 
The Patriots threatened to add to their lead in the top of the fourth. With no outs, UT Tyler loaded the bases on a walk, single, and WT error. After a pitching change, Ashley Mandell escaped the inning without allowing a run, recording three outs via the fielder's choice.
 
Holding a 5-0 lead, the Patriots added on in the top of the fifth. A hit-by-pitch and walk placed two on where a Campos single up the middle scored the first runner. On the throw into home, an unfortunate bounce brought home a second run. An RBI single from Smith plated UT Tyler's eighth run of the game. The Patriots added on two with two outs, bringing the score to 10-0. In the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Buffs couldn't find a rally, going down in order to end the game.
 
THE BASICS
Game 2 Score: #1 UT Tyler 5, #3 West Texas A&M 1
Pitching: (W) Cera Blanchard (22-3); (L) Heidi Vortherms (20-3)
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Lady Buffs scored first in the series finale. On the first pitch of her at-bat, Emilee Boyer sent a moonshot high off the scoreboard in left for a solo home run. UT Tyler looked to answer the run in the bottom of the inning as a lead-off single from Campos followed by a double down the line from Megan Geyer put two in scoring position with one out. On a 1-1 count, Heaven Moreno made a diving stop to save a pair and put WT on two outs in the inning. Heidi Vortherms came up big once again as she struck out Watson on three pitches to leave the bases loaded.
 
The Lady Buffs put pressure on the Patriots in the top of the third when Emily Liskai ripped a lead-off single into center field. A walk to Lauren Granger and an infield single from Kiley Avery loaded the bases and forced a UT Tyler pitching change. The switch worked in the favor of the Patriots as new pitcher Cera Blanchard forced a 5-2-3 double play before escaping the inning on a grounder back to the circle.
 
UT Tyler would plate its first runs of the ball game in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead. The inning started with an error followed by a fielder's choice and a walk to load the bases with no outs. The Patriots cashed in on the opportunity when Smith ripped a single into right field, scoring two to take the lead. A hit-by-pitch brought home another run for UT Tyler, remaining on no outs in the frame. The Patriots added two more when Bailey Krolczyk and Behe lifted sacrifice flies.
 
WT attempted its comeback try in the top of the fifth when Avery reached on a one-out error. After a strikeout, Boyer ripped a single into left field, giving the Lady Buffs life. The Patriots ended the inning and the scoring threat. WT threatened to score again in the sixth when Moreno drew a lead-off walk. With two outs, Liskai singled into left field, putting runners on the corners. UT Tyler escaped the inning in dramatic fashion on a check-swing appeal play to first base.
 
In the top of the seventh, the heart of the order couldn't keep the game alive as UT Tyler advanced to the NCAA final site.