CANYON– The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team lost two matchups to No. 9 West Texas A&M on Saturday. The Lions lost the first game 11-6 and the second game 8-7 on a walk-off home run.
The losses drop the Lions to 26-15 on the season and 11-10 in the Lone Star Conference. The Lady Buffs climb to 32-6 on the year and 17-4 in conference play.
The Lions will next host Western New Mexico University for two doubleheaders on Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, the games will begin at 4 p.m. On Friday, the doubleheader will start at 2 p.m. The second game on Friday will not be considered a conference matchup. All games will be played at the John Cain Family Softball Complex.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Kinsie Hebler hit two home runs in the second game and went 4-for-7 on the day, scoring three runs and batting in five. She also started game two in the circle and struck out three batters in 6.1 innings pitched.
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Mariah Jameyson also had back-to-back homers in the second game. She went 3-for-6 on the day with two runs scored and three RBIs.
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Cherie Jackson homered in the first game and went 3-for-7 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
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Vanessa Avina went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
Jordyn Sharp went 3-for-6 with a triple and a run scored.
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Baylea Higgs had two steals, an RBI single, scored twice and drew two walks.
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Precious Thompson,
Tyler Oppenheim and
Chealsea Slider each had a hit. Oppenheim and Thompson each scored once. Thompson also stole a base.
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Selena Rima and
Courtnee Jones each pitched 3.0 innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
The Lions struck first in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Hebler hit a double to right center. She was driven in on a double from Jameyson to right field. The Buffs answered back with three consecutive singles, the third one of which scored two runs. The Lions trailed 2-1 after one inning.
After a leadoff strikeout, the Lions loaded the bases with two singles and a walk in the top of the second. Higgs hit a single to drive in the tying run. A single from Hebler drove in two more runs and the Lions retook the lead. The Lions led 4-2 after two innings.
After a scoreless third inning, the Lions threatened in the top of the fourth. A leadoff triple from Sharp put a runner in scoring position with no outs. However, the Lions could not get the runner in to score.
The Lady Buffs struck back in the bottom of the fourth and ran away with the game. A two-run double and a two-run home run gave WT back the lead at 6-4. Three walks, a double and two singles in all scored nine runs for WT and they led 11-4 going into the fifth inning.
After a scoreless fifth inning, Jackson hit a home run to lead off the sixth inning for the Lions. The Lion defense held, giving them one more chance to tie the game in the seventh.
Jackson came to the plate again and hit a double, scoring a run in the top of the seventh. But that was all the offense the Lions could produce and the game ended.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
The Lions were again the first team on the board in the second game. In the top of the second, Jackson recorded a two-out double and she was driven home on a single from Avina. The Lady Buffs responded with runs in the second and third innings, including a solo home run in the third. After three innings, WT led 2-1.
The Lions retook the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Both Hebler and Jameyson hit solo home runs to left center field and the Lions took a 3-2 lead. The Lions recorded two more singles and had two more stolen bases to put runners in scoring position but they could not get around and the Lions held a one-run lead going into the fifth.
The Lions again struck in the fifth inning. After Higgs drew a walk, Hebler came to the plate and hit another home run to bring in two runs. Jameyson followed her and hit a home run herself to bring in another run. The Lions led 6-2 at the end of five innings.
The Lions brought another run across in the top of the sixth inning. Sharp singled down the left field line and an error by the outfielder allowed her to run all the way around the bases to score. The Lions led 7-2.
WT cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth. After a single and a walk, a double drove in a run. An error and two more singles let two more runs cross and the Lions held a 7-5 lead going into the seventh inning.
The Lions were unable to get any hits in the top of the seventh inning, giving the Lady Buffs one final chance. A leadoff home run brought WT to within one run of tying the game. After a single, a home run allowed WT to walk off winners of the game and sweep the series.
