Commerce, Texas – A&M-Commerce picked up its first and second Lone Star Conference wins of the season sweeping Texas A&M-Kingsville, 10-9 and 3-2, in doubleheader action Friday at the John Cain Family Softball Field.
 
Game 1: Texas A&M-Kingsville 9, A&M-Commerce 10
Turning Point
After Kingsville rallied from a 9-2 deficit to tie the game at nine in the sixth inning with four runs, the Lions earned the walk-off win on a wild pitch when pinch runner Kayla Kilcrease crossed the plate.
 
Inside the Box Score
Cherie Jackson led the Lions with two hits in four at bats and four RBI. Jackson accounted for six total bases with a homer and a double.
 
Magen Lynch went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a double, while Baylea Higgs was 1-for-3 at plate with two RBI.
 
Brittany Woolridge picked up the win after two innings in relief. She allowed just two hits and two runs while striking out three.
 
Summary
1st Inning
Kingsville opened the scoring with two runs in the first on two hits including an RBI double.
 
4th Inning
The Lion offense came to life in the fourth inning with eight runs on five hits and two Javelina errors.  After Luci Ponce walked, Jackson clubbed a two-run over the centerfield fence.  The Lions reloaded the bases and picked up a run when December Rivers drew a bases loaded walk.  Higgs followed with an RBI single down the right field line before being thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.  After a pair of Javelina errors that led to run, Jackson drove in another two runs with a double to right center to give the Lions an 8-2 lead.
 
5th Inning
After the Javelinas pushed across three runs cutting the lead down to 8-5, the Lions answered with when Lynch led off with a double, stole third and scored when the throw to third went into left field.
 
6th Inning
Kingsville pulled even with four runs on three hits and two Lion errors highlighted by an RBI double.
 
7th Inning
After Woolridge retired Kingsville in order in the top of the inning, Johnna Sturm started the inning off when she reached on an error.  Kilcrease, who entered as a pinch runner, moved to second when Lynch reached on Javelina error on a sac bunt attempt. After Cherry moved the runners with a sac bunt, Kilcrease crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
 
Game 2: Texas A&M-Kingsville 2, A&M-Commerce 3
Turning Point
The Javelinas saw their first runner of the ninth inning reach and move to third on a throwing error. Katie Dean, who entered in the seventh, buckled down and got out of the inning when Kylene Hatton caught a fly ball in left and hosed the runner down at the plate trying to score to preserve the 3-2 win.
 
Inside the Box Score
Monica Cherry led the Lions at the dish after going 2-for-3.
 
Tyler Oppenheim, Sturm and Jackson each had one hit in two trips to the plate.
 
Sturm hit her first career triple in the game.
 
Woolridge recorded the win after six innings of work while recording six strikeouts.  Dean entered in the seventh and picked up her second save of the season.
 
Summary
1st Inning
With one out, Oppenheim reached on an infield single, stole second and scored when Jackson single to center.  Sturm followed with a triple to score Jackson and give the Lions a 2-0 lead.
 
2nd Inning
The Lions pushed across what held up to be the game winner when Ciera Nunez reached with a one-out bunt single.  Higgs followed with a single bringing Nunez around to score on a Javelina throwing error.
 
3rd Inning
Kingsville picked up a two-out RBI single to cut the Lion lead down to 3-1.
 
5th Inning
The Javelinas trimmed the margin even close, 3-2, with an unearned run following a double a Lion throwing error setting up for the Hatton's seventh inning heroics.
 
What's Next?
The two teams finish the series Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in a doubleheader.
 
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.