CLEARWATER, Fla.– The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team got a win and a loss Saturday in day two of the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla. The Lions lost to No. 13 Valdosta State University 6-0 in the morning and then beat No. 17 Saint Leo University 3-2 in the afternoon.
 
The Lions are now 7-2 on the season. Valdosta State went to 7-2 on the season and Saint Leo fell to 7-2.
 
The Lions return to action on Sunday for their final game in Florida. They will face Florida Tech at 11:30 a.m. EST.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Selena Rima pitched five innings to get the win in the Lions' second game, striking out two batters and giving up just one earned run. She also relieved in the Lions' first game and struck out two in her lone inning of action. Katie Dean came in and got the two-inning save, striking out three with no runs allowed.
- Sierra Abbott pitched three innings in her first start of the season, recording a strikeout.
- A&M-Commerce and VSU both had eight hits in the first game. However, the Lions were unable to string together enough hits to get the base runners around.
- The Lions had five hits to SLU's six but scored one more run.
- Baylea Higgs hit .714 with five hits in seven at-bats over the two games. She also had a stolen base.
- Ciera Nunez hit 4-of-6 for a .667 batting average.
- Mariah Jameyson, Chealsea Slider and December Rivers each had an RBI.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
The Lions got their first two hitters on base in the top of the first but a couple of grounders stopped the Lions from getting on the board in the top of the first.
 
VSU got on the board in the bottom of the first. After getting a single, the leadoff batter stole second and got into scoring position. Another single up the middle drove her home to bring the score to 1-0. Abbott got out of the inning without giving up another hit, downing the next three batters.
 
Both teams did little in the second inning. Abbott recorded a strikeout in the bottom of the second and the score remained 1-0 in favor of the Blazers.
 
After a one-two-three inning from the Lions, the Blazers again threatened in the bottom of the third. VSU had a leadoff triple and the next batter singled up the middle to drive in the run. The next batter hit a double just out of reach of the left fielder and another run crossed the plate. The next batter singled to center and drove in another run. Seeing the throw go to home plate, the runner got greedy and tried to stretch the single into a double and got thrown out by Jameyson. Another out ended the inning. VSU led 4-0.
 
The Lions threatened in the top of the fourth. With two outs, the Lions rallied to get consecutive singles. Vanessa Avina came in to pinch hit and got on base after being hit by a pitch. However, the rally stalled after Monica Cherry swung and the ball hit her in the hand. The ball was ruled fair and the throw went down to first to keep the Lions off the board.
 
The Blazers finished the scoring in the bottom of the fourth. The first two batters got on base before Courtnee Jones struck out the next batter. The next hitter got on due to an error and Jones then struck out the next batter. With the bases loaded, a blooping double fell into center field, driving in the last two runs of the game.
 
Neither team threatened again. In the bottom of the sixth, Rima came into finish the game and struck out two batters swinging, using 10 pitches to retire the side. However, the Lions couldn't get a rally going in the top of the seventh.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
SLU put a scare to A&M-Commerce early, with two leadoff singles to start the game. However, Rima settled in and retired the next three batters to keep the game scoreless.
 
The Lions wasted no time getting their first run of the game in the bottom of the first. Nunez and Higgs both singled and both stole second base to lead off and Kinsie Hebler and Jameyson both drew walks, driving Nunez across the plate. This prompted a quick pitching change.
 
The Lions didn't stop there. Slider had an infield single where the runner beat the throw to home. Rivers finished off the scoring with a sacrifice fly to drive in Hebler. The Lions led 3-0 after the first inning.
 
Rima had a seven-pitch strikeout followed by an eight-pitch walk to start the second inning. After getting another out, SLU scored with an infield single that had the runner take two bases. The Lions led 3-1 after the top of the second.
 
The Lions looked to be in business in the bottom of the second after getting the first two batters on base. However, a shallow fly to center was caught with a shoestring catch and the runner on second didn't tag back up in time and was thrown out for a double play. A groundout ended the inning.
 
SLU had a pair of bunt hits in the top of the third inning. However, Rima pitched out of the jam and the runners never got around.
 
After the Lions went three-up and three-down in the bottom of the third, Saint Leo got on the board again in the top half of the fourth. After the first two batters got out, another bunt was laid down for a successful hit. The next batter got on due to a walk. The runner on second attempted to steal third and the throw was wild. The runner got up and crossed home plate. The runner that took second base also tried to make it to third but was thrown out by the catcher and that ended the inning. The Lions led 3-2 after three and a half innings.
 
The rest of the game was a defensive battle. Both teams had three-up, three-down in the next inning. The Lions got a base hit from Higgs in the bottom of the fifth but nothing came of it.
 
Dean entered the game in the top of the sixth inning. She proceeded to strike out the side, keeping the Lions in the lead going into the bottom of the sixth.
 
The Lions again were retired in order in the bottom of the sixth. After a groundout started the top of the seventh inning, a fielding error gave SLU hope with the tying run on base. However, Dean forced a groundout to the second baseman and she turned and fired the ball to the shortstop on second base and she threw it to first for the double play to end the game.