STEPHENVILLE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team picked up a 4-1 win in the first of a three game series against Tarleton State on Friday night. The Lions scored two runs in both the third and fourth innings to get the victory.
 
The win brings the Lions to 9-2 on the season and 1-0 in the Lone Star Conference. The Texanns fall to 7-5 and 0-1 in conference play.
 
The teams will meet again on Saturday for a doubleheader matchup. The games will begin at 1 and 3 p.m. at the TSU Softball Complex.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Mariah Jameyson went 2-for-4, including a double that scored two runs in the top of the third inning.
- Baylea Higgs went 2-for-4 and drove in a run in the top of the fourth inning. She also scored a run.
- Ciera Nunez scored a run in the third inning and had an RBI in the fourth inning.
- Katie Dean got her fifth win of the season, pitching two strikeouts and recording 11 groundouts in 5.2 innings pitched.
- Sierra Abbott got her third save of the season, getting two groundouts and two fly outs.
- TSU committed four errors while the Lions did not commit an error. Both teams had eight hits.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions had their first batter reach on an error but subsequent groundouts halted any chance of getting a run to cross the plate. On the other side of the inning, Dean forced two groundouts of her own before a two-out double had the Texanns in position to do some damage. After consecutive walks loaded the bases, the Lion defense scooped up another ground ball and got the out at first to keep the game scoreless after one inning.
 
Both teams went three-up and three down in the second inning. The Lions opened up the scoring in the top of the third inning. With one out, Nunez got an infield single. She stole second base and was advanced to third on a single from Higgs. She also stole second base and the Lions had runners on second and third. Jameyson came to the plate and smacked a pitch to left center, driving in both runners to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.
 
The first two runners reached for TSU in the bottom of the third. A sacrifice bunt got both runners into scoring position with only one out. Dean went to work and struck out the next batter and then forced a groundout to third base. Precious Thompson stepped on the bag to get the third out.
 
The Lions continued their push in the fourth inning. Johnna Sturm had a leadoff single and then Thompson reached on an error. With runners on the corners, Thompson then stole second base. After a strikeout, Nunez came to the plate and grounded out to second base, but a run crossed the plate. Higgs was up next and singled into left field to drive in Thompson. Higgs stole second base but was unable to get around and the Lions led 4-0 midway through the contest.
 
The Texanns got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning. After the leadoff batter lined out, the next batter drove the ball down the right field line and was safe at second base with a double. After another out, the next batter singled up the middle. The Lions threw home and the runner advanced to second base. With two runners in scoring position, Savannah Stech singled to right field to drive in a run. However, that was all the Texanns could muster as the Lions led 4-1 after four innings.
 
That ended the scoring as it was a defensive affair the rest of the way. The Lions again had a hitter reach on an error and then Chealsea Slider got a base hit to put two runners on in the top of the fifth but the Lions could not get the runners around.
 
Both teams went without runners for an inning before the Texanns looked to make a late rally in the bottom of the sixth inning. After downing the first two batters, the Texanns got back-to-back singles to get runners on base. Looking to halt a two-out rally, the Lions went to the bullpen and Abbott forced a fly out to end the inning.
 
In the top of the seventh Jameyson got a hit but the Lions could not capitalize and went into the bottom of the inning with a three-run lead. The Texanns looked to get something started with a leadoff single but Abbott retired the next three batters and the Lions won the game.