Kingsville, Texas –
Luci Ponce went 4-for-7 with three runs scored, two RBIs and three extra base hits including her team leading fifth homerun of the season as A&M-Commerce split a doubleheader down in Kingsville with the Lions routing the Javelinas 7-2 in game and Kingsville stringing together five runs in the seventh inning to win in walk-off fashion, 7-6, in game two.
Ponce's prowess at the plate proved to be too much for the Javilnas in game one. With the Lions trailing 1-0 after the first,
Magen Lynch reached on single and scored on a Javalina error.
Baylea Higgs drove
Tyler Oppenheim, who reached on the error, and Ponce strolled to the plate and smashed a two-run blast of the right center field fence to cap off a four-run second inning for the Lions to set the tone of the game.
Kingsville scratch across a run in the second inning, but the Lions pushed across a run in the fourth inning when Lynch scored on a Higgs RBI single. A&M-Commerce was not done however. After Ponce led off the top of the fifth with a double and Cherry beat out a bunt for an infield single,
December Rivers delivered a two-out two-RBI single to left center to give the Lions a 7-2 lead.
The margin was more than enough for
Aundria Romero who worked a complete game in the cirle for the Lions to pick up the win. Romero scattered seven hits as the Javelinas stranded eight runners on base that to timely pitching and four strikeouts.
Game two, was a back and forth contest with each team plating a run in the first inning. Ponce led off the game with a triple and later scored on a Cyanne Frenandez RBI single to left.
The game stayed tied at one until the Lions used a two-run sixth inning to take a 3-1 lead. The two runs were plated on three hits and a Javelina error. Higgs highlighted the inning with an RBI single.
Kingsville narrowed the margin with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth, but the Lions appeared to take control of the contest with a three-run top of the seventh. Rivers and Lynch each had RBI singles, while Higgs plated the final run of the inning after earning a two-out full count free pass.
The Lions however could not close out the game to earn the win. After Rachel Longoriac led off with a single, but was forced out at second on a fielder's choice off the bat of Jaeleen Castro, Loren Donaldson smack double and Valerie Ramirez pulled the Javelinas within a run with a three-run homer to left center. Kingsville continued to push putting runners on first a second with two outs. The Lions allowed the Javelinas to keep the inning alive with an error, one that proved costly, when the next batter, Haley Brown, hit a walk-off two-RBI single lifting Kingsville over the Lions 7-6.
Romero took the loss after allowing six hits and five runs in one and two-thirds innings of work. Rima started for the Lions and picked up the no decision after five innings between the circle.
The two squads will wrap up the four-game set with a doubleheader starting Sunday at noon.
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.
