Canyon, Texas – A&M-Commerce clubbed 10 hits in a 10-6 win over No. 1 West Texas A&M in game one, but the Buffs answered with 11 hits in a 12-1 five-inning win in game two of two of Saturday's doubleheader at Schaeffer Park in Lone Star Conference action.
 
The Lions got on the scoreboard first in game with after Magen Lynch started the game with a single. Tyler Oppenheim followed with a walk, and after a strikeout, December Rivers also earned her way on base with a walk.  Aundria Zunigia-Romero drove a 1-1 pitch through the left side of the infield plating Lynch and Oppenheim.  The Lions added one more run after back-to-back walks to Cherie Jackson and Monica Cherry that brought in Rivers and gave the Lions the early 3-0 lead.
 
WT pushed across its first run of the game in the second inning after Allie Smith reached on a one-out single.  After walk to Allie Cranfill, Ashley Hardin knocked a double into the right center field gap to score Smith.  A&M-Commerce starter Zunigia-Romero escaped further damage after inducing a pop up to short and a weak pop up back at her.
 
The kept the pressure on the Buffs with a run in the third inning after a Rivers leadoff double and an Iparraguirre single to center. After Iparraguirre stole second, Cherie Jackson followed with a RBI single to center scoring Rivers.
 
A&M-Commerce added three runs in the top of the fourth and fifth inning.  A two-run double down the right field line for Iparraguirre highlighted the scoring in the fourth inning and Oppenheim drove in a pair of runs with an infield single up the middle to highlight the fifth inning.
 
Facing the eight run rule at home, the Buffs strung together four runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth frame.  Smith drove a two-run single through the right side with the bases loaded to spark the WT rally.
 
WT kept the pressure on the Lions with a run in the sixth inning thanks to a RBI double to right center off the bat of Lacey Taylor plating Stacey Ramirez, who reached on an infield single.
 
Zunigia-Romero picked up the win for the Lions in the circle to improve to 9-3 on the season.  She went four and a third innings and allowed four hits and four runs.  Courtney Moore worked two and two-thirds innings, just an out shy of a three-inning save, in relief and held the Buffs bats at bay.
 
Three Lions -- Oppenheim, Iparraguirre and Romero – went 2-for-4 as the Lions pounded out 10 hits.  All three also drove in two runs with Jackson and Cherry picking up the other two runs batted in.
 
Rita Hokianga took the loss for the Buffs after allowing seven runs, six earned, in four innings.
 
The Lions 10 runs were the most given up by WT since May 11 against Midwestern State in the NCAA South Central when the Buffs fell 12-11. 
 
In game two, it was all WT as the Buffs opened the game with a four-run first inning. WT did not let off the gas pedal as the Buffs added eight runs on six hits and four Lion errors in the bottom of the second highlighted by a three-run shot to left by Smith.
 
The lone Lion of the game came in the top of the fourth inning when Johnna Sturm drove a 1-2 pitch over the centerfield fence for a solo homer.
 
WT pounded out 11 hits in the 12-1 win.  Selena Rima took the loss in the circle for the Lions after allowing 11 runs, seven earned, and seven hits.  Hannah Newcomb picked up the win for the Buffs working all fiving innings and allowing just three hits.  Newcomb struck out five Lions while picking up her sixth of the year.
 
In the four-game series, the Lions tallied 18 runs, the most given up by the Buffs in a four-game set this season and most given up dating back to the final LSC series of the 2014 season against Angelo State.
 
With the game one loss and No. 2 ranked Valdosta State on an 18-game winning streak after a doubleheader sweep of Christian Brothers Saturday, the Buffs could drop out of the No. 1 spot in the NFCA rankings for the first time in 56 weeks.
 
The Lions (16-14, 5-5) will return the John Cain Family Softball Field Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 with a LSC series against the Pioneers. Friday's twinbill will start at 4 p.m. with Saturday's doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
 
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