PHOTO BY AMANDA GARCIA | LADY BUFFS: Kimberly LeComte, freshman IF/OF, is developing into a team leader, starting 37 of the Lady Buffs games this season. The Lady Buffs enter the Lone Star Conference Crossover Tournament in Durant, Olka. on March 27 with a 26-12 overall record.
Tammy Luksich
Sports Editor
Lady Buff softball came out tough in Lone Star Conference action on March 21 after defeating #1-Angelo State, 14-10, but #23-WTAMU could not keep the momentum in the final two games.
In the first game, WT took an early 3-2 lead in the bottom of the first. The second inning was similar with Kimbery LeComte, freshman IF/OF, connecting on a two-run homer to right field. The Lady Rambelles responded with two runs in the third inning on a two-run single from Nicole Smith, making the score 5-4.
In the bottom of the sixth, the score was 10-9, favoring ASU. A grand slam to left center from Erin Hartigan, senior IF, sealed the game for the Lady Buffs with a final score of 14-10.
“Erin has been a four-year starter and has worked very hard to get where she is,” Kevin Blaskowski, head coach, said. “She has a lot of experience and has used it well in her preparation and approach at the plate this year.”
In game two, the Lady Rambelles started hitting and did not look back. ASU opened the game with five consecutive base hits, scoring three runs in the top of the first.
In the bottom of the fourth WT got on the board. Kaitlyn Witte, sophomore P/IF, doubled home teammmates, Kasey Henderson and Kimberly LeComte, making the score 5-2 with ASU on top.
“We had a couple of defensive miscues in the second game,” Blaskowski said. “We weren’t able to keep them from scoring.”
The Lady Rambelles kept fighting adding two more runs on the top of the seventh.
Again, Hartigan’s batting skills were useful with two runners on base, she hit a three-run shot to left field, cutting Angelo’s lead, 7-5. It wouldn’t be enough for the Lady Buffs, as Angelo finished the game with April Haywood (11-2) taking the win for the Lady Rambelles.
The final game of the series was a similar story for the Lady Buffs. Angelo had no trouble at the plate as they finished the game with 19 runs on 24 hits, winning the game 19-9.
Dani Cougar and Breanna Adams led WT in scoring and RBI. Cougar went 2-for-5 with two RBI, while Adams drove in three runs on one hit.
“The biggest part of the weekend wasn’t that we played bad, but Angelo was hitting more home runs,” Wittie said. “They just took it one step further, and it’s tough to defend that.”
Despite the losses, WT will bounce into the Lone Star Conference Crossover Tournament against Northeastern State in Durant, Okla. on March 27. The Lady Buffs post an overall record of 26-12, 6-6 LSC South.
WT will look to overcome some of the bumps and bruises it encountered in its 14 games during the past two weeks.
“This week we’ll be focusing on mostly healing and tweaking a few basic things,” Wittie said. “These games helped us prepare for this weekend mentally and physically.”
Additionally, there are a few fundamental things that the Lady Buffs will be working on to push them ahead into the post-season.
“I feel our pitchers need to work on closing out games for us,” Blaskoski said. “We have given up a lot of runs late in games and that has hurt us. Offensively, we are striking out by looking too much and we have left a lot of runners on base in key situations.”