Rambelles fall 1-3 in series against Lady Buffs

Over the weekend, the Angelo State University Rambelles softball team took on the West Texas A&M Lady Buffs in three games from Friday, April 26 to Sunday, April 28, with scores of 6-7, 3-6 and 10-7. 

Friday's game kicked off with a run by freshman utility Laylonna Applin, followed by sophomore infielder Tatiana Trotter for a 2-0 lead in their first inning. The Rambelles' second inning strengthened their lead 4-0 with a run by senior outfielder Ashton Dirner, immediately followed by another run by junior pitcher/infielder Averie Gunther. By their second inning, the Lady Buffs scored their first run, marking a 4-1 score. After a standstill in the third innings, the Lady Buffs took the lead, scoring four more runs for a 4-5 lead. Scoring the Rambelles’ last two runs, sophomore infielder Layni Tanner and junior infielder Erin Plunkett placed the Rambelles at a 6-5 lead. Retaking the lead, the Lady Buffs secured two more runs for the final 6-7 score as the Rambelles' first loss.

Saturday's game started with a slow start, with the Lady Buffs taking the lead in their second inning, stealing home plate twice for a 0-2 lead. The Lady Buffs fortified their lead in their fourth inning, scoring three more runs for a 0-5 lead. A home run by Trotter with Applin on third base placed the Rambelles at a 2-5 disadvantage. After a sixth run by the Lady Buffs, Rambelle junior infielder Lauren De La Cruz batted a home run for the final 3-6 score as the Rambelles’ second loss.

Sunday's game began with a slow first inning, while the Rambelles’ second innings' first batter, De La Cruz, batted a home run for a 1-0 lead. Soon after, the Lady Buffs took a 1-2 lead, scoring two runs off a home run. The Rambelles took a major 6-2 lead as freshman catcher Abby Brand, Applin, Gunther, Plunkett and Trotter scored five runs in their third inning. The Rambelles' fourth inning saw two runs scored by Applin and Gunther off of a double to center field; furthermore, two more runs were scored by Trotter and Plunkett, both having stolen home plate for a 10-2 lead. After a home run by the Lady Buffs in their fourth inning, they scored their fourth run of the game in their following inning. The final 10-7 score would be reached by the Lady Buffs in their seventh inning, securing three runs and marking the Rambelles’ one win of the weekend.

Having suffered two losses and a single victory against the WTAMU Lady Buffs, the Rambelles hold a solid 37-15 overall standing, maintaining their third-place ranking in the Lone Star Conference. The Rambelles will have to give it their all in their next match-up as they will take on the Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaps as their first opponents of the LSC Tournament on Friday, May 3, in Canyon, Texas.