The NMHU Softball team recently won two out of their three games at the West Texas A&M Lady Buff Classic Tournament, in Canyon, Texas. The Cowgirls won their first game of a scheduled doubleheader against the TexAnns of Tarleton State University, on 2/18, by the final score of 12-11. Unfortunately, due to an understaffed West Texas A&M sports information department, no stats were taken for the contest. Also unfortunate was the cancellation of the second game of that double-header against Tarleton State, on 2/18, due to inclement weather. The Cowgirls then split their double header on Sunday, 2/19, against NCAA DII #5 West Texas A&M Lady Buffs. In game one of Sunday's double header, the Lady Buffs rolled to a 10-1 victory in five innings, due to the eight-run rule in collegiate softball. However, the Cowgirls came storming back in a big way in game two of the double header to hand the #5 Lady Buffs their first loss of the season, with the 12-4 victory in the final game of the tournament. The impressive victory against the nationally ranked Lady Buffs gave the Cowgirls a 3-2 winning record in the Lady Buff Classic. With two more wins in the Lady Buff Classic, the Cowgirls, led by Head Coach Shellie Broyles, improve to a 5-5 record in overall play.
In game one of Sunday's double header against #5 West Texas A&M, the Lady Buffs got out to a quick start. The Cowgirls' first three batters were retired in order in the first inning. The Lady Buffs managed to score one run in the bottom of the first, when a single got through the left side with runners in scoring position. The Cowgirls managed to get a base runner on in the top of the second inning thanks to a Lady Buff error, but they ended up leaving the runner on base. The Lady Buffs kept up the pressure in the bottom of the second by getting three runs on two hits, to make the score 4-0 in favor of West Texas.
Alisha Perry got the Cowgirls' first hit of the game, a single to left-center field in the third inning, but that was all the Cowgirls could manage. The Lady Buffs got one hit in the third but didn't score in the inning either. The Cowgirls got another hit in the top of the fourth, but again couldn't score. The Lady Buffs did yet more damage in the bottom of the fourth, off of an RBI single and a three-run homerun, to make the score 8-0. The Cowgirls were able to put up their first point in the top of the fifth, when
Brittany Potter drove in
Tess Oliphant from third base on a single through the left side. West Texas then ended the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-run homerun over the left-field wall. The Lady Buffs took the game one victory by the final score of 10-1, but the Cowgirls weren't done just yet.
Erica Wieck was credited with the loss for the Cowgirls in her one and two-thirds innings pitched. Wieck started the game for the Cowgirls from the pitcher's circle and faced 11 batters. She allowed three runs on two hits and walked four.
Jenelle Klassen was brought on in relief for the Cowgirls in the second inning. She threw two and a third innings from the pitcher's circle and faced 17 batters. Klassen allowed seven runs on eight hits, struck out one batter and walked two.
The Cowgirls' offense was held down in game one, by the Lady Buffs pitcher, only able to manage four hits and one run in the game.
Brittany Potter continued her offensive contributions in the game with an RBI from a 1-3 effort at the plate.
Alisha Perry was 1-2 in the batter's box and got the Cowgirls first hit of the game.
Tess Oliphant scored the only run for the Cowgirls in the game.
Game two of the double header would go much differently for the Cowgirls. This year's Cowgirls are more resilient than in previous years, and they weren't about to lie down and go away, not even for the fifth ranked NCAA DII team in the nation.
The first three batters for the Cowgirls got the ball rolling right away.
Erica Wieck drew a walk, and then
Krista Mattice hit a single to center field that advanced Wieck to second base. At that point it was “Potter-time,” as
Brittany Potter stepped up to the plate and in her clutch style cranked the ball over the left-center wall for a three-run homerun. The score was 3-0 in the first inning, but there were no outs and the Cowgirls weren't done. The next two Cowgirls got on base and with runners at first and second,
Roxanne Avalos hit an RBI single to right field that scored
Katie Kerr. The Lady Buffs finally got their first out of the inning on a strike out, but two batters later
Alisha Perry hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored
Lynette Directo. Then Roxy Avalos scored on an RBI single to center field by, the Cowgirls' first batter,
Erica Wieck.
Krista Mattice came up for her second at bat of the inning and drove an RBI single down the left-field line that scored
Halie Thompson from second base.
Brittany Potter was hit by a pitch, but the Lady Buffs managed to get out of the inning by striking out the next batter. With the top of the first inning done, the Cowgirls had a 7-0 lead on the #5 Lady Buffs.
Cowgirls' freshman pitcher
Jessica Brink started the game from the pitcher's circle for the Cowgirls. Despite allowing two walks, she managed to work out of the first inning with no hits allowed and the Cowgirls still holding the 7-0 lead. Neither team got a hit or a base runner in the second inning, but in the third inning the Cowgirls' offense went to work once again. Two runners got on for the Cowgirls and
Halie Thompson scored from second off a throwing error by the Lady Buffs pitcher.
Brittany Potter reached first on a throwing error by the Lady Buffs' third baseman, allowing
Alisha Perry to score from third. Then Wieck scored from third off an RBI single to left field by
Lynette Directo. The Lady Buffs finally got out of the inning by getting Potter out on a fielder's choice, but not before the Cowgirls were able to put up three more runs to make the score 10-0 Cowgirls. The Lady Buffs were only able to manage one hit in the third inning, but they weren't able to score.
In the fourth inning the Cowgirls got one hit, but it was time for the Lady Buffs to get on the scoreboard. West Texas' first batter hit a solo homerun. Then with two outs and two runners on base, the Lady Buffs' M. Slattery hit a two-RBI double to right-center field before she was thrown out at third to end the inning. At the end of four innings the Cowgirls still had the lead, 10-3. The Cowgirls'
Devon Paiz came on to pinch run for
Brittany Potter, after Potter hit a double, in the fifth inning. Paiz reached third on a sacrifice bunt and then scored off an RBI single to right-center field by
Lynette Directo, it was the only run the Cowgirls scored in the fifth inning. The Lady Buffs got a run off of an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning. At the end of five, the Cowgirls were still in the lead, 11-4. The Cowgirls got another run in the top of the sixth when
Erica Wieck hit a solo homerun over the left-center field wall. Then in the bottom of the sixth inning, Cowgirl
Jessica Brink retired the side to give the Cowgirls the eight run rule victory. The Cowgirls bounced back in game two to get a convincing victory over the #5 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M. It was a fitting ending to a successful Lady Buff Classic Tournament that saw the Cowgirls go 3-2 to emerge at a .500 record for the season.
Jessica Brink was credited with the win in game two for the Cowgirls. She threw a complete six innings from the pitcher's circle and faced 27 batters. Brink allowed four runs on five hits, struck out three batters and walked six.
The Cowgirls offense rolled the Lady Buffs in game two of their double header. They combined for a .363 team batting average, with two homeruns, 12 runs scored, 10 RBIs, and one double.
Erica Wieck,
Brittany Potter, and
Lynette Directo were the offensive leaders for the Cowgirls in the game. Wieck had a great game, with three runs scored and two RBIs. She went 2-3 at the plate, with two walks and a solo homerun in the sixth inning that helped end the game for the Cowgirls. Potter continued her offensive onslaught by going 2-3 from the batter's box, with one run scored and three RBIs. It was Potter's three run homerun in the first inning that got the Cowgirls scoring off to a great start. Directo also had a good game for the Cowgirls. She hit 3-4 at the plate, with two RBIs and one run scored.
Overall the Cowgirls offense is a force to be reckoned with this season, as the fifth ranked team in the nation found out in game two of the double header.
Erica Wieck is a dual threat as a pitcher and the Cowgirls' lead-off hitter.
Brittany Potter continues to give opposing pitchers fit with her awesome power at the plate. The rest of the Cowgirls are getting into the action and giving opposing teams something to think about.
The Cowgirls are coming together nicely as a team. Their 3-2 record in the West Texas A&M Lady Buff Classic against some tough opposition has given a lot of hope for the upcoming RMAC regular season. The Cowgirls will have their first home action this coming weekend, 2/25-26, as they play two double headers against the Colorado School of Mines in the first RMAC action of the year.
The NMHU Cowgirls begin conference action, on 2/25, as they host the Orediggers of the Colorado School of Mines for a double header, on 2/25. The Orediggers were picked to finish first in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. They are currently in ninth place in the RMAC with a 3-8 overall record. The first game is scheduled to begin at 11 am with the second game of the double header to follow shortly after the completion of game one. Come on out to Brandt Field to catch the Cowgirls in action.
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HERE For Complete Game One Stats
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GO COWGIRLS!!!
