CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M softball posted its second shutout of the Lone Star Conference Tournament as the Lady Buffs defeated the Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps 6-0 on Friday afternoon. The Lady Buffs improve to 52-4 on the season and advance to their second consecutive Lone Star Conference Championship game.
 
After a scoreless frame from Heidi Vortherms in the top of the first, the Lady Buffs opened the scoring in the bottom of the inning. Lauren Granger started the hitting with a single down the line in right before being replaced on the bases by Kiley Avery who reached on a fielder's choice. A double to the gap from Abby Howell moved the pair into scoring position where Emilee Boyer blasted a ball over the left field wall for a three-run home run.
 
The Lady Buffs added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning after Avery started the frame with an infield single. The senior outfielder advanced to second on a wild pitch followed by a Howell walk. With no outs in the inning, Boyer dropped down a bunt and nearly beat the throw to first, sacrificing the runners up a base. Heaven Moreno drove in WT's fourth run when the junior infielder laid down a safety squeeze to score Avery. A batter later, Halie Stoneking ripped a single through the middle of the infield to plate a run.
 
WT plated its final run in the bottom of the fifth inning to close the scoring. A lead-off error from the Lady Chaps put Avery on second base. Howell powered her second double of the game to left-center, missing a home run by a matter of inches. With one out inning and runners on first and third base, the Lady Buffs put a first-and-third play on. After Boyer got hung up between first and second, pinch-runner Riley Stiner came home to score before Boyer got tagged out.
 
Vortherms continued to deal in the circle, allowing just two base runners in the final two frames. The senior received the win in the circle to improve to 19-1 on the season, tossing a complete game shutouts with four strikeouts. Vortherms also moved into third on WT's all-time strikeout leaderboard, totaling 465 strikeouts in her career.
 
The Lady Buffs will rematch with No. 1-ranked and second-seeded UT Tyler in the LSC Championship for the second season. First pitch is scheduled for  2 p.m. at Schaeffer Park in Canyon.