The Eastern New Mexico News - Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Staff report

CANYON, Texas — Sophomore Lacey Taylor homered in both games and top-ranked West Texas A&M swept a Lone Star Conference softball doubleheader from Eastern New Mexico University 4-0 and 10-1 on Friday.

The Lady Buffs (44-4, 19-4 LSC) tied their school record, winning their 16th and 17th games in a row, and improved to 23-0 at home. They also pulled into a tie for the LSC with Angelo State (37-10, 19-4) when the Rambelles settled for a doubleheader split at Texas A&M-Kingsville (11-39, 3-21).

Freshman Cailin Garmon (5-21) took the losses in the twin bill, but pitched creditably in the opener. She allowed just three hits and struck out five in a complete game, but six walks helped doom her to the loss.

Three of the free passes came in succession with two on and two out in the fourth, forcing in WT’s final run. Still, it was just the 11th time this season the Lady Buffs, who average nearly nine runs a game, have been held to four or fewer.

WT scored in the first on a one-out triple by Tyler Wilkinson and a wild pitch. Then Taylor made it 3-0 in the second when she hit a two-run homer with one out after a walk to Allie Cranfill.

Junior left-hander Rita Hokianga (20-2) picked up the win, allowing just three singles while walking none and striking out four. Senior second baseman Jackie Candelaria had two of the hits for the Zias (13-38, 1-22).

In the second game, third baseman Jessica Sipe hit a first-inning sacrifice fly, and Taylor made it 2-0 with her seventh homer, a two-out solo shot to left in the second.

WT got a two-run double from Cranfill in a three-run third, then scored five runs on five hits in the fourth. Meantime, the Zias broke through against Tori Baker (9-0) in the top of the fourth when Kyra Sirag doubled with one out and came home on a single by Marleyna Pinon.

Baker gave up seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, leaving after a single by Beatriz Caporal and a two-out double by Audrey Velasquez put runners in scoring position. Hannah Newcomb got the final out on a grounder to second to end the game on the 10-run rule.