CANYON, Texas – A fourth-inning home run off the bat of
Avery Cannon proved to be the difference for West Texas A&M softball as the Lady Buffs defeated Lone Star Conference rival and No. 8-ranked Angelo State 2-1 on Friday afternoon in Canyon. The Lady Buffs remain in the winner's bracket of the South Central Regional Tournament and hold a 54-5 record on the season.
Angelo State put the first run of the day on the board to open game one of the day. The frame started with a lead-off single from Erin Plunkett which moved up to second on a groundout to shortstop. A walk put a runner on first where Averie Gunther slapped a two-out single down the third-base line to plate Plunkett from second base. The Lady Buffs looked to answer the run in the bottom of the inning after putting two runners on, but a strikeout from Cheyenne Floyd ended the threat.
The one-run lead for the Rambelles held up until the bottom of the third where WT tied up the score. A lead-off walk from
Lauren Granger moved to second when
Kiley Avery reached on a bunt single. After an
Abby Howell sacrifice bunt, Angelo State intentionally walked
Emilee Boyer to load the bases and face
Cadence Colborn. Colborn came up clutch as the freshman infielder dropped in a single in front of the Angelo State right fielder to score Granger from third. After the RBI single, the Rambelles retired the next two hitters to strand the bases loaded and keep the game tied.
WT would score what proved to be the game winning run in the bottom of the fourth. After watching a ball,
Avery Cannon connected on her 12
th home run of the year to put the Lady Buffs up 2-1. Angelo State placed the tying run on second the next half inning before the go-ahead run reached first on a walk. With two outs, Boyer forced a groundout to short to end the inning and bring the Lady Buffs back to the plate.
In the top of the seventh, Boyer recorded two quick outs before Ashton McMillan singled up the middle. The junior pitcher didn't let the base hit bother her as she retired the next hitter to end the ball game.
WT awaits its opponent for Saturday's 2:30 p.m. regional championship game.