CANYON, Texas – On Saturday afternoon, No. 3-ranked West Texas A&M softball fell to No. 1-ranked UT Tyler 13-2 in five innings at Schaeffer Park in Canyon, Texas. The Lady Buffs fall to 52-5 overall on the season with the loss.
 
UT Tyler opened the scoring in the top of the first as a lead-off double moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ka'Lyn Watson. On a 3-1 count, Taryn Barney lined a single into right field to put the Patriots in the lead. UT Tyler threatened to add to their lead, but WT starter Emilee Boyer escaped the jam.
 
WT knotted the score at one in their first at bat. The inning started with a single from Lauren Granger followed by a walk to Kiley Avery. Abby Howell moved the runners up a base with a groundout to short. After an intentional walk to Boyer, Cadence Colborn lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score pinch-runner Lily Mulder from third base.
 
The Patriots blew open the game in the top of the second inning with seven runs on six hits. After scoring five runs in the inning, a Miia Campos triple to left capped off the scoring. UT Tyler added to its lead in the top of the third with a pair of runs to extend the score to 12-1.
 
In the fifth inning, a Taryn Barney double to the gap scored JT Smith from first base, bringing the score up to 13-1. In the bottom of the inning, WT plated a run after Avery singled to the pitcher to set up a Howell single to center. After the ball landed in center, an error allowed the ball to go to the fence, moving each player up a base. Boyer recorded an RBI as the junior hit a groundout to short.
 
After the tournament, Boyer, Granger, and Heidi Vortherms earned LSC All-Tournament Team honors.
 
The Lady Buffs will await their seeding for the NCAA Tournament with the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, May 5 at 9 a.m. CT.