Canyon, Texas- A&M-Commerce fought off elimination with a 13-4 win over MSU-Denver before falling to No. 1 seed and No. 1 ranked West Texas A&M 10-0 to end the Lions magical run during the 2016 season.
The Lions were the first team in Division I and Division II history to make NCAA postseason play in only their first two seasons. They conquered another milestone winning a game in the regional tournament.
The season ended for the Lions after the run-rule loss to WT. A&M-Commerce's season comes to a close at 37-19 on the year.
"What we accomplished this year, I can't be more proud of our kids for doing something that no one else in the history of Division II softball has done. As a coach, I am extremely proud of our kids, for the hard work that they have done," A&M-Commerce head coach
Richie Bruister said.
A&M-Commerce 13, MSU-Denver 4
Turning Point
The Lions scored three runs in each of the first two innings en route to the 13-6 win.
Inside the Box Score
Baylea Higgs went 2-for-3 and scored two runs.
Tyler Oppenheim went 3-for-5 and scored two runs.
Monica Cherry went 3-for-4 with a walk.
Haley Colwell led the Lions in RBI with four. She went 2-for-4 and scored two runs.
Johnna Sturm went 3-for-4, had one run and two RBI.
Luci Ponce and
Cherie Jackson each went 1-for-4 and both had two RBI.
Katie Dean got the win after pitching five and a third innings innings. She faced 23 batters and only allowed four hits while recording her 11th win of the season.
Summary
1st Inning
Cherry singled with two outs on the board, and Hatton followed with a double. Colwell walked, and Dean had an RBI walk scoring Cherry for the first run of the game. Sturm hit a two-RBI single driving up the score 3-0.
2nd Inning
Hatton got the first RBI of the inning when she singled right field scoring Higgs. Colwell followed Hatton's hit with a two-RBI double brining in Oppenheim and Hatton.
5th Inning
The Lions scored three again racking up runs to an almost run rule 9-1 in the top of the inning but couldn't hold the Roadrunners to end the game. The Roadrunners trimmed the deficit and scored three to stay alive.
7th Inning
A&M-Commerce polished off the game with four more run taking the win, 13-4. Higgs walked and scored on Hatton's single. Colwell hit a two-RBI single, Jackson drove in the final run when she walked.
A&M-Commerce 0, West Texas 10
Turning Point
The Lady Buffs started the game fired up after accumulating their third loss of the season against Colorado Mesa earlier in the day. West Texas hit a two-run homer to open the game. It was a lead the Lady Buffs would not relinquish.
Inside the Box Score
Oppenheim was the lone Lion with two hits. She was 2-for-3 in the game. A&M-Commerce was held to just five hits.
Summary
1st Inning
The Lady Buffs scored two runs on a homer.
2nd Inning
West Texas scored six runs, including four on a grand slam.
3rd Inning
The Lady Buffs added one more run to the board to take 9-0 lead on the Lions.
5th Inning
West Texas increased the margin with the final run of the game in the fifth inning to seal the Lions fate on the season.
What's Next
The 2016 season is over for the Lions, coach
Richie Bruister had some insight into what the future of lion softball holds.
"I am extremely excited about the future of our program," Bruister said. "We are still young and I am excited about the baton the seniors passed to our younger players."
Fans can follow all the action from the 2015-16 season on www.LionAthletics.com, through twitter @Lion_Athletics and also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics.
