COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team picked up two over Western New Mexico University on Friday. The Lions won the first game 10-1 in five innings and won the second game 5-0.
 
The wins bring the Lions to 30-15 on the season and 14-10 in the Lone Star Conference. The Mustangs fall to 1-41 and 0-24 in conference action.
 
The Lions will next hit the road to take on the conference leaders of Angelo State University. The Lions will play a single game on Friday starting at 6 p.m. The teams will then square off in a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. All games will be played at Mayer Field in San Angelo.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Vanessa Avina hit the 10th grand slam in program history in game one of the day. She came in to pinch hit and sent the pitch over the left field fence. She went 2-for-4 over the two games with two runs scored, four RBIs and a stolen base.
- Kinsie Hebler went 3-for-6 on the day with two RBIs, a run scored and she also drew a walk. She was also the starter in game two, picking up her 10th win in the circle this season. She pitched three strikeouts and held batters to a .250 average.
- Precious Thompson went 3-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI. Mariah Jameyson also went 3-for-6 and scored a run and hit a run across.
- Baylea Higgs had two hits, two steals and scored two runs. Ciera Nunez also had two steals while Tyler Oppenheim stole three times. The Lions were a perfect 10-for-10 stealing on the day.
- Cherie Jackson and Chealsea Slider both scored twice. Oppenheim, Katie Dean and Jordyn Sharp each scored once. Sharp also had two hits and stole a base. Johnna Sturm had an RBI walk.
- Courtnee Jones pitched a complete game in the first game, tallying a strikeout and holding batters to a .222 average. Dean came in for the save in game two and didn't give up a hit in 1.2 innings pitched.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
As was the story in game one of Thursday's doubleheader, the Lions jumped out to a commanding lead in the first inning. Three of the first four batters walked, with the other hitting single. The third walk brought across a run. After a fielder's choice got the first out of the inning, another walk brought in a second run. Thompson then singled to bring in another run. Avina then came to the plate as a pinch hitter and smashed a pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam. With the bases loaded again, Hebler hit a single to bring in the eighth run of the inning. The Lions led 8-0 after one.
 
The Lions scored again in the bottom of the second. After Jackson reached on an error, Thompson and Higgs each singled to load the bases. Sturm then came to the plate and drew a walk to bring in another run. Through three innings, the Lions led 9-0 and Jones had yet to give up a hit.
 
That hitless streak ended in the fourth inning as WNMU got its lone run across the board. After two singles put runners on, a third single brought a run across. Jones faced the bases loaded but did not give up another run and the Lions led 9-1 going into the bottom of the fourth.
 
The Lions scored again in the bottom of the fourth. Oppenheim drew a walk and, after stealing second base, she was driven home on a triple from Sharp.
 
Three quick outs in the top of the fifth ended the game due to the run-ahead rule.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
After a quick top half of the inning, the Lions struck in the bottom of the first. Avina led off with a single and then stole second. After a walk by Higgs, Hebler hit an infield single and Avina came around to score. Another run came across when Slider hit into a fielder's choice. The Lions led 2-0 after one inning.
 
After a quiet second inning, the Lions scored two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Jameyson led off with a single. Slider then reached on a fielder's choice. Thompson went to bunt and got a single. A throwing error allowed Slider to score and let Thompson go to third base. Oppenheim then came to the plate and hit a single to left field to bring in another run. The Lions led 4-0 after three innings.
 
The teams were quiet through the next two innings as defense ruled the day. The Mustangs threatened with bases loaded in the fifth inning but Hebler was able to pitch out of the jam and escape unscathed.
 
The Lions brought home another run in the sixth inning. Dean and Higgs drew walks to lead off. Dean then scored with some astute base running on a fielder's choice. Dean then went out and got the final three outs to give the Lions the shutout win and to record the save.