April 25, 2008

Box Score

CANYON, Texas - Freshman Kaitlyn Witte connected on her school record 10th home run of the season as the West Texas A&M softball team's offense got rolling en route to sweeping both games of a doubleheader from Texas-Permian Basin at Lady Buff Yard on Friday by the scores of 5-1 and 13-0.

The pair of victories improves WT's overall record this season to 24-31 heading into this weekend's Lone Star Conference South Division series against Abilene Christian. The ACU set will begin with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. before the teams tangle in the series finale on Sunday a 1:30 p.m.

Game #1 Recap (West Texas A&M 5, Texas-Permian Basin 1) Junior outfielder Jessica Ruzicki got the Lady Buff offense going to break a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning. With one out in the frame, the Calgary, Alberta, native double down the right field line and took third on her 12th stolen base of the season. She was able to score the game's first run two batters later on a fielder's choice, giving WT the initial lead at 1-0.

The Lady Buffs were able to break the game open with four runs in the home half of the fifth to take a 5-0 advantage. Sophomore catcher Dani Couger started the scoring with an RBI single and Erin Hartigan followed with a RBI double in the next at bat. Later in the frame, shortstop Amber Farr plated two more runs with a sharp single into centerfield.

An unearned run by the Falcons in the top of the seventh broke up the shutout bid by WT freshman Chantel Pearson, who evened her record at 3-3 by scattering nine hits and striking out eight in a complete game effort.

Game #1 Recap (West Texas A&M 13, Texas-Permian Basin 0) After getting hot in game one, the Lady Buff offense really got rolling during the day's second game by scoring in every inning to cruise to a 13-0 win in five innings.

Centerfielder Rachel Cavallaro singled to start the bottom of the first and moved into scoring position with her school record 34th stolen base of the year. With one out, Witte drew a walk to put two runners on for fellow freshman Audrey Wallace, who doubled to drive in both runners.

A pair of home runs highlighted a six-run second inning for the Lady Buffs, leaving them with a commanding 8-0 advantage. With a full-count and a pair of runners on, Witte connected on her 10th home run of the season off UTPB starter Jennifer Oso, a high arching shot over the wall in right field. Following a RBI double off the bat of Couger, who was 3-for-3 at the plate in the contest, Hartigan stepped in and went opposite field for her sixth long ball of the year.

Brytany Lemon, Jace Holton and Couger went on to drive in runs in a three-run WT third inning before Courtney Moore and Farr plated runs with base hits in the fourth.

In the circle, WT's lone senior Andrea Renteria (9-13) turned in a solid performance, limiting the Falcons to only four hits while striking out five.