April 24, 2009

Box Score

ABILENE, Texas – The West Texas A&M Lady Buffs’ big bats proved too much for the Central Oklahoma Bronchos, as WT held UCO to only one run while scoring 19 runs on 18 hits, Friday afternoon in first-round action of the Lone Star Conference post-season softball championship at Polly Wells Field in Abilene, Texas.

The win lifts the Lady Buffs to 34-20 overall, while UCO falls to 24-14. The Lady Buffs continue on in the Lone Star Conference tournament, advancing to second round action to face the winner of Abilene Christian and Midwestern State.

“This was a great opener for us,” said head coach Kevin Blaskowski. “We did everything we needed to do. We talked about our pitchers stepping up and Marci Womack did a great job for us. Amber Farr was also great at short.”

The Lady Buffs were scoreless in the first inning, but made some noise in the top of the second inning. Kristina Myles and Erin Hartigan recorded base hits, followed by an RBI hit by Amber Farr.

UCO walked in another run for WT, and Kaitlin Witte registered two RBI’s with another base hit, scoring Hartigan and Farr. A double by Meghan Brown gave the Lady Buffs a 6-1 lead as Kasey Henderson and Witte scored.

The offensive surge continued in the top of the third as Myles, Hartigan and Farr each tallied base hits, loading the bases. A hit by Henderson scored two runners and a double by Kimberly LeComte led to two more Lady Buff runs as Farr and Henderson each scored.

WT starter Marci Womack (7-8) continued to shut down UCO at the plate, while WT scored two more runs in the third to make the score to 13-1.

At one point, UCO grounded out to shortstop, Amber Farr, on five consecutive outs.

In the fifth inning, the Lady Buffs scored five more runs, including two-run doubles by A.J. Deal and LeComte.  Three quick outs in the bottom of the fifth ended the game, with the Lady Buffs winning by a score of 19-1.

Womack went the distance for the victory, scattering seven hits over five innings while allowing just one run and not walking a batter.

“What can we say about our offense,” Blaskowski said. “We did what we’ve been doing all year long and didn’t have to rely on the long ball. This was a great game for us all the way around.”

The Lady Buffs advance to second round tournament action, facing the winner of Abilene Christian and Midwestern State. The first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 25 at Polly Wells Field in Abilene, Texas.