The #6 ranked WTAMU Lady Buff Softball team finally got to open the 2011 season at the ACU Whitten Inn Softball Classic on Feb. 12-13.
In the first game of the tournament the Lady Buffs took on LSC South rival Texas Woman’s University. TWU struck early in the top of the first inning with two quick runs to put WT behind 2-0. Things got worse in the top of the third inning as four Lady Buff errors led to three runs for the Pioneers. But, the Lady Buffs responded in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 5-5. WT took their first lead of the contest in the bottom of the fourth with three runs to give them an 8-5 lead. TWU couldn’t contain the offensive attack as the Lady Buffs came away with an impressive 10-6 victory.
Senior right-fielder Kasey Henderson, junior center-fielder Kimberley LeComte, junior catcher Meghan Brown and junior third-basemen Samantha Watson all contributed to the offensive attack on the day for the Lady Buffs with 2 RBI’s apiece.
Junior Marci Womack picked up the victory on the mound for the Lady Buffs giving up six runs on five hits while pitching six innings improving her record to 1-0 on the season. Junior Shelbey Cockrell picked up her first save of the season for the Lady Buffs.
Game two saw Cockrell steal the show against host Abilene Christian as she threw only the third no-hitter in Lady Buff softball history and the second of her career. WT made quick work of the Lady Wildcats winning 11-0 in five innings. Junior second-basemen Kristina Myles led the offense for the Lady Buffs going 3-for-3 with 5 RBI on the night. Cockrell struck out five Lady Wildcats in five innings of work to pick up the complete-game no hit victory.
On day two of the tournament, WT faced off against Cameron University in their first matchup of the session. The Lady Aggies gave WT plenty of fits as they kept things close throughout, but it was the Lady Buffs who eventually came away with a hard fought 7-4 victory.
Once again for the Lady Buffs it was senior Kasey Henderson leading the Lady Buff offense with two RBI along with sophomore first-basemen Brooke Webster with two RBI as well. Junior Marci Womack picked up her second victory of the season (2-0) working four innings while giving up four runs on eight hits. Junior Shelby Cockrell picked up her second save of the season working two innings and not giving up any hits or runs.
The final contest of the tournament saw the Lady Buffs take on St. Mary’s. An early first inning deficit was too much to overcome as the Lady Buffs fell to the Lady Rattlers 7-4. Junior Shelby Cockrell was tagged with the loss as she pitched three innings giving up seven runs on eight hits.
WT’s overall record now stands at 3-1 on the season. The Lady Buffs will be back in action Feb. 18-19 as they host the first WTAMU Triangular at Lady Buff Yard. Feb. 18 will see the Lady Buffs take on Oklahoma Panhandle State University at 11:00 a.m. Followed by Western New Mexico at 4:00 p.m. Feb. 19 will see WT face WNM at 1:30 p.m. followed by OPSU at 4:00 p.m.
