COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team split a doubleheader against Eastern New Mexico University at home on Friday. The Lions dropped the first game 5-4 but rebounded to win game two 7-1.
The split brings the Lions to 25-12 on the season and 10-7 in the Lone Star Conference. The Greyhounds are now 17-25 and 10-10 in conference action.
The Lions and Greyhounds will meet for game three of their series on Saturday with first pitch at 1 p.m. The game will be played at the John Cain Family Softball Complex in Commerce.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Kinsie Hebler went 6-for-7 on the day with a double and two triples. She scored three runs and batted in four, slugging 1.571. She also started the second game as the pitcher and struck out a career-high eight batters in 6.0 innings. In her 7.0 innings pitched between the two games, she held opponents to a .125 batting average and had nine strikeouts while giving up just three hits.
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Mariah Jameyson continued to hit the ball with power. She hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first in game two, giving her eight home runs in her last 10 games. She also threw out the lone base stealer for ENMU.
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Chealsea Slider went 3-for-7 from the plate and had three RBIs and one run scored. She is now on a 12-game hitting streak.
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Jordyn Sharp went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base.
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Ciera Nunez went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
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Tyler Oppenheim and
Cherie Jackson each had two hits and
Precious Thompson and
Baylea Higgs both had one. Higgs also stole two bases.
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Katie Dean pitched six innings in the first game and recorded two strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
A leadoff single started the game for the Greyhounds. However, ENMU could not get the runner around and the game remained scoreless. The Lions drew a walk in the bottom of the first but the other batters could not start a rally and the game was scoreless after one inning.
After a three-up, three-down inning in the top of the second, the Lions took a lead in the bottom of the inning. Jackson reached on a walk and then Slider reached on a fielder's choice. A single from Oppenheim was followed by a walk for Thompson. Sharp was then walked and drove in a run to give the Lions a 1-0 lead after two innings.
The Greyhounds tied the game up in the top of the third. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases and a sacrifice fly brought in the runner from third to tie the game. The Lions retook the lead in the bottom of the third. Hebler led off with a triple and she was driven in on a single from Slider. The Lions led 2-1 after three innings.
After neither team could do damage in the fourth inning, the Greyhounds offense exploded in the top of the fifth. A leadoff single started the inning. After the next two batters were retired, a two-out double scored the game-tying run. After another batter reached on a walk, a three-run home run from Susannah Chandler put a stamp on the inning. After five innings, the Lions trailed 5-2.
The Lions cut into the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Thompson reached on a bunt and a single from Higgs put two runners on base. After a walk loaded the bases, Hebler singled down the right field line to drive in two runs. The Lions trailed 5-4 after six innings.
Hebler came in to pitch in the seventh inning and got a pop out, a swinging strikeout and a groundout to give the Lion offense a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. The Lions drew a two-out walk to give themselves a chance but a groundout ended the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
After a quick top of the first inning, the Lions got on the board quickly in the bottom of the first. Nunez had an infield single and then stole second base. Hebler then reached after being hit by a pitch. Jameyson then came to the plate and took the second pitch and blasted it over the center field wall. The Lions led 3-0 after the first inning.
Hebler recorded two strikeouts in the top of the second inning and didn't allow a run to cross the plate. The Lions added to their lead in the bottom of the inning. Higgs drew a walk and then stole second and third base. She was brought home by Hebler on a single to right field. The Lions led 4-0 after two innings.
Hebler struck out the side in the top of the third inning and got another strikeout in the top of the fourth inning. The Lions added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Nunez had an infield single and stole second base. She was driven home on a double by Hebler. She was pinch run for by Kilcrease and she was driven home on a single from Slider. The Lions led 6-0 after four innings.
Hebler struck out a batter in both the fifth and sixth inning and the Greyhounds were again kept off the board. The Lions added another run in the bottom of the sixth. Hebler hit a triple and was driven in on a single from Slider to left field. The Lions led 7-0 after six innings.
The Greyhounds scored a run in the top of the seventh but the game ended on a fielder's choice.
