Final Box

DENTON, Texas – The Angelo State softball team is making a habit out of big innings in the Lone Star Conference Softball Championship, as the No. 10 Rambelles used a six-run fourth inning to secure an 11-3 run-rule victory over No. 24 West Texas A&M on Saturday at Pioneer Field in front of 406 fans. 

With the win, the Rambelles improved to 44-8 on the season as the Lady Buffs fell to 34-18 on the year.
 
For the second consecutive game, Angelo State tallied a run in the first inning. Lauren Smith legged out an infield single, which stretched her hitting streak to eight games. The junior then stole her 14th base of the season before DeeshanaLynn Tafiti ripped an RBI-double to left center giving ASU a 1-0 lead.
 
West Texas A&M threatened in the third inning, but Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Year Claire Molina worked herself out of the jam. With runners on first and third and just one out, Molina battled back from a 3-0 count to strike out the league's all-time home run leader Kim LeComte. LeComte's bat never left her shoulder, as the senior watched three straight strikes go by for the second out. The inning came to a close when April Breshears made a diving catch in foul territory to leave the bases loaded.
 
Molina got some run support in the fourth after the Rambelles batted around, scoring six runs on four hits. Morgan Spearman and Breshears each had RBI singles, and the Belles also took advantage of WT starting pitcher Marci Womack's control issues. With the bases loaded, Womack hit back-to-back ASU batters which helped ASU build a 7-0 lead.
 
WT began to climb back into the game an inning later though. The Lady Buffs loaded the bases before back-to-back walks made it a 7-2 game. Mary Kate McKay came in on relief and was charged an illegal pitch on her first throw of the game to score another Lady Buff. The sophomore from Madill, Okla., was not phased, as she earned a strike out, a pop out and a ground out on the next three batters. WT stranded runners on second and third.
 
ASU's confidence was not shaken, as the Rambelles scored four runs of their own in the fifth inning to run-rule the Lady Buffs, 11-3. Tafiti capped off the game with an RBI single up the middle to score Kacie Easley from third.
 
Molina picked up the win and improved to 24-4 on the year. The senior threw 4.0 innings and struck out four while working around six hits. McKay picked up her third save of the season. Womack took the loss and is 20-11 on the season.
 
The Rambelles will take on Incarnate Word for the LSC Championship beginning at 6 p.m. at Pioneer Field in Denton. Live audio will be available on AngeloSports.com and 1260 KKSA or follow live Twitter updates @AngeloSports.