COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team split their two games against Texas A&M International University on Tuesday. The Lions lost the first game 8-6 and won the second game 10-2 in six innings. The doubleheader was a raucous environment thanks to the large crowd on Education Day presented by Alliance Bank,
 
The split brings the Lions to 21-9 on the season. The Dustdevils go to 8-17 on the season.
 
The Lions return to conference action this weekend for a three-game series against Texas A&M University-Kingsville. The Lions play a single game on Friday at 6 p.m. and then a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday. All three games will be played the Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field in Kingsville. The Lions will then face TAMIU on Sunday at noon for a doubleheader in Laredo.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Mariah Jameyson had a smoldering bat, going 6-for-7 at the plate, including three home runs. She scored five runs and batted in seven runs. She had an on-base percentage of .875 and a slugging percentage of 2.286.
- Ciera Nunez went 3-for-7 with five runs scored and four steals. She was not caught as a base stealer.
- Kinsie Hebler pitched in game two and in five innings allowed two unearned runs and had a strikeout. Hebler also went 1-for-4 at the plate but walked four times and scored two runs.
- Katie Dean pitched in relief in both games for the Lions. She had eight strikeouts in just three innings pitched. She also had a home run in the second game.
- Cherie Jackson had a home run that cleared not only the ball park but went over the parking lot, driving in herself in her only at bat of the day.
- Chealsea Slider went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and two walks. December Rivers had two hits and batted in two runs.
- Precious Thompson and Tyler Oppenheim also had hits. Thompson and Vanessa Avina each had a stolen base. Avina also scored a run.
- Selena Rima started the first game and had four strikeouts in five innings pitched.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
It was a rough start for the Lions as the leadoff hitter for TAMIU hit a home run into left field. After two groundouts, the fourth batter also homered and the Dustdevils led 2-0 after the first half inning.
 
The Lions hoped for a rally in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, the Lions drew two consecutive walks. However, a groundout stopped the rally and the Lions trailed 2-0 after one inning.
 
Rima settled down in the second inning, striking out the first two batters she faced. After a walk, she then snagged a grounder and fired it to first to end the top of the second. The bottom of the inning went quickly.
 
After a quick three outs in the top of the third, the Lions tied the score in the bottom of the inning. Nunez drew a walk and then stole second base. She was driven home on a home run by Jameyson. The game was tied 2-2 after three innings.
 
The Dustdevils retook the lead in the top of the fourth. A two-out single up the middle was followed by a double down the left field line that scored the runner. The Lions couldn't get a rally going in the bottom half and trailed 3-2 after four innings.
 
TAMIU added to its lead in the top of the fifth. A walk was followed by a home run to left field, scoring two more runs. The Lions responded with two runs of their own. After a stolen base from Nunez, she was driven home on a single by Jameyson. Avina came in as a pinch runner and scored on a double steal attempt that let the runner steal home while the other runner was tagged out at second base. The Lions trailed 5-4 after five innings.
 
Neither team could score in the sixth inning but the Dustdevils added to their lead with three runs in the top of the seventh. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases and a single into the outfield let two runs score. A sacrifice fly by the next batter gave TAMIU a four-run lead.
 
The Lions tried to claw back in the bottom of the seventh. Nunez singled and she was driven home on another homer by Jameyson. However, two runs was all the Lions could come away with and a fly out ended the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
After three straight groundouts started the game for the Dustdevils, the Lions scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Nunez singled and then stole second base. A walk and a single loaded the bases with one out. Rivers grounded out but drove in one run. Slider then came up and singled to center, scoring two more runs. The Lions led 3-0 after one inning.
 
After a quick second inning, the Dustdevils got on the board in the top of the third. A leadoff single was followed by a walk and a lineout got the second out but an errant throw allowed a base runner to come around to score. The Lions got the run back in the bottom of the inning. Jameyson hit another home run to left center, her third homer of the day. The Lions led 4-1 after three innings.
 
The Lions added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Jackson pinch hit and smashed a home run that went over the fence and out of the parking lot, giving the Lions a 5-1 lead after four innings.
 
A single from Hebler in the bottom of the fifth started another rally for the Lions. She was pinch run for by Jones who advanced to third on a double from Rivers. The next two batters drew walks and Pausewang drove in a run on her walk to give the Lions a 6-1 lead after five innings.
 
The Dustdevils got another run across in the top of the sixth but the Lions scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to end the game. Dean led off with a home run to left center. Nunez then singled and stole a base for the fourth time on the day. After a walk to Hebler, Jameyson doubled to center, driving in Nunez. Rivers then grounded out but another run came across. A groundout from Slider drew in the winning run as the Lions won on the run-ahead rule.