Roster | Schedule | News | Archives | Home

April 13, 2008

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. - The Lady Buffs could not maintain the momentum gained from a quick start on Sunday as the West Texas A&M softball team dropped the rubber match-up of a three-game Lone Star Conference South Division set against Eastern New Mexico by the score of 10-2.

The loss drops WT's overall record to 20-29 on the year and more importantly its mark in LSC South action to 5-10, leaving them on the outside looking in during the race for the LSC Tournament with only one league series to go. Eastern New Mexico, meanwhile, improves to 22-26 and 2-10 in league play.

The Lady Buffs appeared on the way to taking control of the game in the opening moments, as sophomore shortstop Amber Farr tripled to lead off the game and scored on an illegal pitch in the next at bat. ENMU pitcher Kristen Cruickshank limited the damage, however, escaping the frame trailing only 1-0.

WT's Shannon O'Dea, who picked up the win in the second game of the series, escaped the first inning without damage, but leadoff hits by the Zias in the second and third innings came around to score, leaving the home team up, 2-1.

O'Dea (9-12) took the loss in the pitching circle, allowing 10 earned runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings of work.

A four-run ENMU fourth broke the game open for the home team and a run in the fifth innings left the Zias with a 7-1 advantage heading into what would prove to be the final frame.

Freshman right fielder Audrey Wallace drew a walk with one out in the sixth and catcher Dani Couger continued the rally with a hit in the next at bat to set the table for left fielder Jessica Ruzicki. The Calgary, Alberta, native pushed across the Lady Buffs' second run of the day with a sharp single through the left side to plate Wallace. The next two WT batters flew out to centerfield to end the threat.

Eastern New Mexico plated three runs, highlighted by a two-run double from Rebecca Quinones, in the bottom of the sixth to put an end to the game.

The Lady Buffs are back in action on Wednesday at Lady Buff Yard, when they host Panhandle State in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.