Hosting St. Mary’s on Friday and Saturday, the No. 2-ranked Lady Buffs faced major deficits in two games, however, battled back for thrilling wins to complete a three-game sweep of the Rattlers in an exciting Lone Star Conference series.
WTAMU started off the drama battling back in the bottom of the seventh of Game on Friday to plate six runs to stun St. Mary’s 7-6. After getting a 4-0 getting a 4-0 shutout in the nightcap Friday, the Lady Buffs showed a flair for the dramatics once again in the bottom of the seventh of Saturday’s contest when Brittni Rufus delivered a game-winning three-run homer to lift WTAMU to an incredible 11-10 victory and the series sweep.
The Lady Buffs move to 30-3 overall and lead the LSC with a 22-2 record. WTAMU is also a perfect 16-0 at the friendly confines of Schaeffer Park this year.
WTAMU continues conference play at Western New Mexico on Thursday and Friday.
Game 1
The West Texas A&M softball team used a dramatic walk off against St. Mary’s in game one of Friday’s doubleheader.
Trailing 6-1 heading into their last at-bat, WTAMU rallied as Diana Murtha started the comeback with a single to right field before Madison Johnson grounded out to third.
With Murtha on second, a single to right followed by a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for the Lady Buffs. St. Mary’s looked to escape with the game one win as Braeland Booth struck out. Down to their last out, Lauren Granger lined a single into right, scoring two and bringing the Rattler lead down to two.
With two on and two out, Rufus lined a triple into the left-center gap. As Rufus slid into third, the throw to the infield went to the wall, allowing Rufus to come home and win the game.
Rufus finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
Game 2
Like the first game Friday, the Lady Buffs started the scoring in their first at bat. Lauren Granger hit a one-hopper to second, but the second baseman dropped the ball, allowing Granger to reach. After Rufus advanced Granger on a ground out, Emilee Boyer lifted a fly ball to right. Granger tagged up on the play, but the throw to third skipped in, bringing Granger into score.
WT brought in two more runs in the bottom of the third as Megan Guericke led off the inning with a double in the gap before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt. While at third, Guericke was lifted for pinch-runner Kiley Avery. The Lady Buffs wasted no time in bringing in Avery as Granger singled into left on the first pitch she saw. Following a Rufus single, a four-pitch walk from Boyer loaded the bases with one out. Mutha worked a four-pitch walk of her own, bringing home pinch-runner Halie Stoneking.
Ashley Mandell (5-1) earned the win for game two after throwing 4.1 scoreless innings in a relief role allowing three hits with.
Game 3
Similar to the first game, Rufus was once again played hero giving the Lady Buffs a comeback that will be talked about for some time.
St. Mary’s looked to have put the game away in the top of the sixth as a double came into score on a one-out RBI single to left to go up 10-3.
WT mounted its comeback in the bottom half of the inning as three-consecutive doubles from Megan Guericke, Emily Liskai, and Granger brought the score to 10-5.
The Lady Buffs carried that momentum into the bottom of the seventh as Guericke started the rally with a one-out walk. Another double from Liskai put runners on second and third with one out in the inning. St. Mary’s put itself in position to steal the final game of the series as the Rattlers cut down a runner trying to score on a fielder’s choice. With two outs in the inning, Rufus powered a home run over the left-center wall to walk off the game.