Lady Buffs turn back Zias

Freedom New Mexico

CANYON, Texas — Eastern New Mexico University junior Erin Roufosse pitched a solid game on Saturday in the Zias’ Lone Star Conference South Division and season finale. It just wasn’t enough against the 22nd-ranked team in NCAA Division II.

Second baseman Kaitlyn Witte’s two-out RBI triple provided the only earned run against Roufosse (7-29) as West Texas A&M downed ENMU 3-0, completing a three-game series sweep.

Single runs in the third and fifth for the Lady Buffs (40-14, 14-7 LSC) were unearned as ENMU committed four errors. Meantime the Zias (13-41, 3-18) managed only three singles — one each off three WT pitchers.

Marci Womack (20-7) went five innings to become the Lady Buffs’ second 20-game winner this season. Chantel Pierson and Shelbey Cockrell, who earned her fourth save, each allowed one hit in one inning.

Lady Buffs pitchers combined to strike out 12 Zias — 10 by Womack — and allow no walks.

Womack gave up a two-out single to Paige Colburn in the first, then retired 10 in a row before hitting Samantha Emms with a pitch leading off the fifth. Roufosse hit a leadoff single off Pierson in the sixth and Taylor Howard opened the seventh with a single, but the Zias got no one past second all day.

Roufosse finished with one walk and four strikeouts.

ZIAS LINESCORE

Saturday

Lone Star Conference South

West Texas A&M 3, ENMU 0

ENMU 000 000 0 — 0 3 4

W. Texas A&M 101 010 x — 3 7 0

Erin Roufosse and Tonya Crockett; Marci Womack, Chantel Pearson (6), Shelbey Cockrell (7) and Meghan Brown. W — Womack (20-7). L — Roufosse (7-29). LOB — Eastern New Mexico 4, West Texas A&M 5. 3B — Kaitlyn Witte. T — 1:45. A — 176.