SAN ANGELO – The No. 2 Angelo State softball team took the series 2-1 over No. 12 West Texas A&M with a 1-0 win in game two of the series before falling in the finale 3-0 on Saturday at Mayer Field.
The Rambelles (30-2, 10-1 LSC) extended their school record win streak to 26 before the Lady Buffs (23-6, 8-4 LSC) scored their only runs of the series in the finale. It is the first Lone Star Conference series win for Angelo State since 2013.
"I'm extremely proud of the way we played this whole stretch," Angelo State head softball coach Travis Scott said. "To win 26-straight games and have a chance to win the finale, I am really proud of the team. It was a pitcher's duel all weekend. I knew there would be some shut down with pitching I didn't expect all three to be that way. Give credit to WT and we played phenomenal. It was a great atmosphere and the crowd was great both days. I am really happy with what we having going on here."
The first game of the doubleheader, much like all three games, was a pitching duel. ASU faced off against Kilee Halbert and had a chance to score in the first inning after three walks. Madison Greenwell, Courtney Barnhill and Taegan Kirk all drew walks. Danae Bina got the bat on the ball but was thrown out at first.
Kenedy Urbany matched Halbert pitch for pitch. She only allowed two hits through the first three innings and struck out five.
WT threatened in the fourth inning. The Lady Buffs loaded the bases with one out. Urbany got a fielder's choice with Bina throwing out the runner at home and the senior struck out Shanna McBorom to end the fourth.
Bina had a hand in the bottom of the fourth getting hit by a pitch. Friday's hero, Brooke Mangold, answered the call again. The junior sent the first pitch she saw to right center with Bina scoring from first.
It would be the only run that would be needed for Urbany. The senior threw a complete game shut out for her 11th win of the season. She struck out seven only allowing four hits and two walks.
The finale game series was another classic that turned into another pitching duel. Brandy Marlett faced Halbert and the two teams were scoreless through the first seven innings.
Marlett would strike out 10 batters and only give up three hits. She had to get out of trouble in the third with two outs and the bases loaded. She ended the inning with a strikeout. Halbert was just as efficient limiting ASU to just two hits.
The Rambelles had a chances to score in the third and sixth with two outs but Halbert forced fly balls in both instances.
A leadoff walk by Kirk in the bottom of the seventh and Bina hit a sacrifice bunt to advance her to second. A fielder's choice put pinch runner Megan Gordon on third. Heather Reatherford hit a ball in front of the WT catcher that look fair but bounced over the catcher foul and Halbert picked up a strikeout to end the threat.
WT finally got to Marlett in the eighth as Katie Coveney hit a solo home run to right field. Marlett had a streak of 31 straight scoreless innings up until the eighth. The Lady Buffs would score two more runs with one charged to Marlett and one to Morgan Hill to take a 3-0 lead into the eighth.
ASU put a runner at first but stranded it in the eighth falling 3-0.
The Rambelles will head to St. Edward's for a midweek doubleheader on Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Austin.
