Kingsville, Texas - The A&M-Commerce Lions had a big day in games three and four of five in the Emerald Beach Hotel Softball Invitational. The Lions went into an extra inning against A&M-International winning, 10-8, before run-ruling Black Hills State University with a shutout, 12-0. A&M-Commerce is on a four game winning streak with a record of 7-1.
 
The Lions are 8-0 when scoring seven runs or more and 8-0 when leading after four innings.
 
The young team moved from the preseason ranking of seventh to being second in the Lone Star Conference after only two weeks of non-conference play. The first conference game will be at Cameron on Friday, February 26th.
 
Game 1: A&M-Commerce 10, A&M-International 8
Turning Point
- The Lions came back strong in the extra inning when Kylene Hatton singled to second driving home Baylea Higgs. Cherie Jackson came around to score on a Dustdevil error. The runs took the score out to 10-8 at the top of the eighth inning. The Dustdevil's then went three-up-three-down to close out an extra inning game with an intense Lion win.
 
Inside the box score
- Brittany Woolridge closed out the game with two strikeouts and got the win. Woolridge worked the final inning and a third while recording two strikeouts.
 
- Higgs went 2-for-5 and had three hits.
 
- Ciera Nunez went 3-for-4 and had two hits.
 
- Tyler Oppenheim went 2-for-4 had one hit and one RBI.
 
2nd Inning
- Monica Cherry walked and came around to score on a throwing error when Nunez, who reached on a singled through the right side, stole second. Nunez scored to tie the game at three with Tyler Oppenheim singled.
 
4th Inning
- Cherry, Oppenheim and Nunez each singled and scored. It was a full inning for the Lions with three runs and fives hits that ended with the Lions leading 6-3
 
6th Inning
- After the Dustdevils tied the game with three runs in the fifth, Luci Ponce doubled to center and brought Higgs home to score. Higgs reached on a one-out single. Kayla Kilcrease pinch ran for Ponce and scored when Kylene Hatton single to right to give the Lions an 8-6 lead after six.
 
8th Inning
- The Dustdevils tied the game in the bottom of the seven with two runs to the set up the extra frame. In the extra inning, Higgs started on second base due to international tiebreaker then stole third. Jackson was intentionally walked by the Dustdevil's and stole second.  Hatton singled platting Higgs and Jackson.
 
- In the bottom of the eighth inning, Woolridge struck out two Dustdevil's closing the game for a huge win for the Lions.
 
Game 2: A&M-Commerce 12, Black Hills State 0
Turning point
-Top of the fourth inning the Lions scored six runs putting them at a distance from BHSU 12-0 and the Yellow Jackets remained scoreless allowing the Lions to run rule in the fifth.
 
Inside the box score
- The Lions set a new school record for stolen bases in a game with 10.
 
- Woolridge pitched all five innings earning the win. She only allowed one hit and had two strikeouts and faced 15 batters.
 
- Jackson went 3-for-3, had two runs and 3 RBI.
 
- Nunez went 2-for-3, had two runs and 1 RBI.
 
- Colwell had a home run and 3 RBI.
 
1st Inning
- Ponce walked and scored for the first run of the game to start a three-run first inning for the Lions. A&M-Commerce's three runs came on four walks and two hits in the inning including Nunez' two-out RBI single.
 
2nd Inning
- The Lions tacked on two runs in the second inning thanks to a Jackson doubled to the right field wall that drove home both runs in the inning.
 
3rd Inning
- The Lions lone run in the third inning came on an RBI groundout by Higgs that plated Nunez.
 
4th Inning
- Haley Colwell hit her first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left center, to highlight a six-run inning to cap off the final runs of the game sealing the run-ruled 12-0 win.
 
What's Next
- The Lions close out the tournament with St. Edwards on Sunday at 1 p.m.