CANYON, Texas (May 12, 2017) - Abby Walker of Texas Woman's University pitched a shutout to No. 4 West Texas A&M and Tara Solomon provided three RBI in a 3-0 victory over the Lady Buffs following a 5-2 TWU win over Tarleton State Friday at WT's Schaeffer Park to advance the Pioneers into a matchup with St. Mary's Saturday with a trip to the Super Regional at stake.
 
The Pioneers (35-20, 18-11 LSC) will face St. Mary's (44-14, 16-5 Heartland) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Schaeffer Park. TWU must defeat the Rattlers twice to move on to Super Regionals next week.
 
Texas Woman's 3, No. 4 West Texas A&M 0
 
Friday's matchup was the fourth of the season between the teams with the Lady Buffs sweeping the three-game series and outscoring TWU 48-2, but the Pioneers came through when it counted during the South Central Regional Tournament on the home field and in the dugout of the Lady Buffs to end their season.
 
Walker (17-9) recorded possibly her best performance in a Pioneer uniform by allowing just three hits, with the first occurring in the top of the fifth, and striking out six Lady Buffs. Solomon registered the fifth double of her TWU career to produce the three Pioneer runs.
 
The TWU defense followed Walker's lead with impressive grabs and zero errors, beginning with a running catch by Katy Stephens for the first out in inning two. Offensively, Bice chalked up the first Pioneer hit off the pitcher's glove, and Alexis Elizondo beat the throw from the WT shortstop to put runners on first and second. Walker then drew a walk to load the bases for Solomon. With two outs and a full count in the books, the freshman pelted a double to the left field fence to score three Pioneers for the 3-0 advantage.
 
Tylia Sylestine provided more defense in the top of the four with two catches, one being a sky-high ball in foul territory, to keep WT at bay. The Lady Buffs recorded two of their three hits of the evening in the top of the fifth with a pair of singles to shallow center field, but Hazel Puempel tallied the third out by tagging first to keep the runners stranded.
 
WT (43-11, 24-6 LSC) placed a bunt in front of the plate in the top of the sixth to make it to first, but the Pioneers secured a fly out and strikeout to move into the seventh.
 
Walker struck out the first batter looking, and a groundout made up the second out. The next Lady Buff batter tallied a 2-2 count, but the next two pitches were ruled balls to place the runner on first. The Lone Star Conference Player of the Year, Nicole Nordie, hauled in a fly ball to center to secure the win.
 
Texas Woman's 5, Tarleton State 2
 
The TexAnns were the first to attack offensively by taking advantage of a pair of walks and a single to load the bases in the top of the first. A fielder's choice caught the runner at third but the first run scooted in for a 1-0 TWU edge. A single to center field again filled the bases but a fly out kept the runners stranded.
 
Nordie set things off for the Pioneers with a single up the middle and a stolen base. Stephens then singled to center to push Nordie to third, and Stephens swiftly stole second. Puempel placed a double to left center to bring in Nordie and Stephens for a 2-1 TWU lead. Sylestine took a walk to first and advanced to second on a fielder's choice by Bice, but two more outs left the two Pioneers on base.
 
A pair of groundouts by the Pioneers started off the bottom of the second before Nordie and Stephens each replayed the last inning with a singles to the same spots and steals to second, and Stephens totaled an RBI on her hit by bringing in Nordie for a 3-1 TWU lead. Puempel delivered again by singling to right field to bring in Stephens for another run. Puempel stole second, Stylestine took another walk to first, and Bice singled to the pitcher to load the bases, but a third out left them deserted.
 
Hailey Dixon came in to pitch for Bice in the top of the fifth with one out on the board and a runner on first. Dixon walked the next batter before striking out the next looking. Another walk loaded the bases for the TexAnns with the go-ahead run at the plate, but Dixon but the batter away swinging to retire the inning and preserve the 4-1 TWU advantage.
 
The TexAnns added a run to cut the lead to 4-2 in the top of the sixth by way of a single, wild pitch and groundout RBI. The Pioneers equalized in the bottom of the frame with Nordie tallying her third single and stolen base of the game. Puempel tallied yet another RBI with a single to center field to score Nordie and again push the lead to 5-2.
 
Walker relieved Dixon in the top of the seventh and made quick work of the three TSU batters for the save.
 
Bice (7-9) took the win with one earned run on four walks and a strike out.