CANYON, Texas – The No. 22 Angelo State softball team dropped a pair of close 2-1 games to No. 1 West Texas A&M in the first two of a four game series in Canyon.

The Rambelles fall to 18-7 on the season and 7-3 in the LSC with the two losses. ASU combined for 10 hits while limiting the Lady Buffs (26-0, 10-0 LSC) to just six in the two games. The two teams will play the final two games of the series starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The first game was a pitching duel between Morgan Hill and WT's Kilee Halbert. Both threw complete games and only gave up four hits.

West Texas A&M was struck first in the bottom of the third. A two-out double kept the inning alive for WT's leadoff hitter. She was able to reach on a fielder error and Brittany Gehle capitalized with a two RBI single to left field.

The Rambelles answered with a run in the top of the fourth. Alexis Evans drew a walk and Taegan Kirk sent a single through the left side to trim the lead to 2-1.  

Morgan Hill had a chance to tie the game in the fifth but was thrown out at home trying to score from second base. The sophomore was credited with the loss after 6.0 innings and striking out three batters.

Game two was similar with pitchers limiting both offenses.

ASU grabbed its first lead of the series in the top of the second inning. A leadoff double by Kirk turned into a run with Lanie Robinson driving her in on a single to left center.

Brandy Marlett was in the circle and held the potent WT offense hitless through the first three innings. It wasn't until the fourth WT was able to get a hit and it was a big one.

WT's Lacey Taylor took a 2-2 pitch to left field for a two-run home run.

The Rambelles stranded a runner at third in the fifth and had two runners on in the seventh but couldn't find the tying run.

Marlett only allowed two hits in just her third loss of the season. The sophomore struck out 10 batters for the second time this season.