Durant, Okla. –
Aundria Romero improved to 5-0 in the circle after tossing her third complete game of the season to lead A&M-Commerce to a 2-1 upset win No. 4 Southeastern Oklahoma on the final day of the Southeastern Regional Invitational Sunday afternoon.
Romero scattered four hits while striking out five batters to hold the Savage Storm at bay. Southeastern Oklahoma came into the game hitting at .377 clip before being held in check by Romero.
The Savage Storm scored their run in the fourth inning after Courtney Riddle led of with a single. Riddle move to second a ground out. Pinch hitter Jessica Simmons delivered for Southeastern Oklahoma with a single up the middle to plate Riddle. Romero pinched out of the inning to avoid further trouble and give the Lions a chance for a comeback.
With only one hit in the game for the first five innings, the Lions had to find a way to manufacture runs.
Luci Ponce did just that after drawing a walk following an eight-pitch at bat.
Monica Cherry earned a free pass after getting hit by a pitch. After a line out,
December Rivers came to the plate with one out. Rivers squared to bunt and Ponce broke for third on the play, but turned to head back to second after reading the play. No one from Southeastern covered second, the base Ponce was occupying, but the Savage Storm's catch came up and threw to the bag attempting to pick off Ponce. The ball rolled into the center and Ponce moved to third and Cherry took second on the arrant throw.
Rivers put her 3-2 pitch in play to second sending Ponce to the plate for the game-tying RBI. The throw from second to first to get Rivers out was thrown away, which allowed Cherry to round third and score on the play to give the Lions a 2-1 lead.
Romero gave up a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth inning, but ended the threat after a fly ball to center and a pair strikeouts getting the Savage Storm hitters to freeze and watch the third strike. She retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the 2-1 upset win for the Lions. The Lions earn their first win over a ranked opponent in their second try after falling to No. 16 St. Mary's on day one of the tournament.
The Lions wrap up the two-day event with two wins in five games to improve to 8-3 on the season. A&M-Commerce will return to the John Cain Family Softball Field with a doubleheader scheduled for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. against Texas A&M-International for its next contests.
Fans can follow all the action from the 2014-15 season on www.LionAthletics.com, through twitter @Lion_Athletics and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics.
