AUSTIN– The No. 11 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team defeated St. Edward's University in three games on Wednesday. The Lions defeated the Hilltoppers 2-0 in the first game, finishing a halted game that started on Feb. 7. The team then played their regularly scheduled doubleheader. A&M-Commerce won the first game 14-1 and the second game 12-0, both in five innings.
 
The wins bring the Lions to 22-3 on the season and they sweep the season series against the Hilltoppers 4-0. SEU falls to 3-24 on the year.
 
The Lions return to Lone Star Conference action on Friday in a three-game home series against UT Permian Basin. The teams will play a single game on Friday at 7 p.m. and a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. All games will be played at the John Cain Family Softball Complex in Commerce.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 1)
- Neither team had a hit in the final three innings in the restarted game. Emily Otto pitched all three innings, striking out three to get the save. Kinsie Hebler was credited with the win.
- Jodie Hill had two hits in the game in Commerce, one of which drove in a run.
- Baylea Higgs had the only other hit of the game for the Lions.
- Hebler had an RBI on a sacrifice fly
- Lacie Bullard started the game and one strikeout in three complete innings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
The game began in Commerce on Feb. 7. The Lions scored a run in both the third and fourth innings. Hebler hit a sacrifice fly to score Hill in the third. Hill then had an RBI single in the fourth inning to score Vanessa Muro.
 
The game restarted in the fifth inning in Austin and Otto was brought in to pitch. After walking the first two batters, she settled in and got the first batter out on a groundout. She then got the next two outs via swinging strikeouts and the Lions still held a 2-0 lead.
 
Neither team could get their bats going in the sixth inning. Otto retired the Hilltoppers in order in the top of the frame. The Lions drew a leadoff walk and had two runners reach via walk. However, they could not find a way to bring the runners around and the game stayed at 2-0.
 
The Lions continued to play well on defense, retiring the batters in order to leave with a 2-0 win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 2)
- All nine starting batters scored at least one run for the Lions.
- Mariah Jameyson went 2-of-3, including a three-run home run in the fifth. She also scored two runs. Jameyson now has 10 home runs on the year.
- Kayla Kilcrease hit her first career home run in the fifth inning. She had two hits and drove in three runs.
- Kinsie Hebler had a solo home run in the first inning. She had two hits, three RBIs and a run scored.
- Baylea Higgs had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored. She also had a stolen base.
- Vanessa Muro, Cally Pausewang and Taylor Pruitt also had hits. Bri Sims also had an RBI.
- Ciera Nunez had two runs scored and stole a base. Muro, Sims, Pruitt, Kimber Neal and Jodie Hill also scored a run apiece.
- Selena Rima pitched a complete game. She gave up one earned run with two strikeouts and seven hits. She had six groundouts and seven fly outs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
The Lions got on the board early in the game as Hebler blasted a pitch over the left field fence in the first inning. The Hilltoppers came up in the bottom of the first and hit two singles but Rima got out of the inning unscathed. The Lions held a 1-0 lead after one.
 
The Lion bats got going in the second inning. Kilcrease led off with a double. Hill and Neal both walked to load the bases with no outs. Nunez then drew a walk to bring in a run. Higgs then came up and hit into a fielder's choice to drive in another run. Hebler came up next and hit the ball into the gap in center and drove in two more runs. The Hilltoppers had a solo homer in the bottom of the second and A&M-Commerce led 5-1 after two innings.
 
After neither team had a hit in the third inning, the Lions again started a rally in the fourth inning. Higgs had a single sandwiched between two outs. The Lions then started piling on. Jameyson singled to put two on. Muro then walked to load the bases. Walks from Sims and Kilcrease brought two runs across. Jodie Hill then hit to the third baseman. An errant throw allowed two runs to score and the Lions led 9-1 after four innings. Rima retired the Hilltoppers in order in the bottom of the inning.
 
Nunez drew a walk and stole second. Higgs then had a bunt single and stole second herself to put two runners in scoring position. Jameyson came to the plate and smoked a pitch over the left field fence to bring in three runs. Taylor Pruitt came up as a pinch hitter and singled and was driven home on a homer from Kilcrease to right field. The Lions led 14-1.
 
After a fly out to lead off, the Hilltoppers had three consecutive singles to load the bases in the bottom of the fifth. Rima locked in to get the last two batters, one via strikeout and one via groundout. The Lions won 14-1.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 3)
- Mariah Jameyson hit back-to-back home runs in the same inning, including a grand slam. She tied her own school record with eight RBIs. She went 4-for-4 on the day and now has 12 home runs on the season with two grand slams.
- Baylea Higgs had two hits, two runs scored and three RBIs. She also had two stolen bases.
- Ciera Nunez had three hits and two runs scored and also stole a base.
- Kimber Neal had one hit, one RBI and two runs scored.
- Bri Sims also had a hit. Jodie Hill, Kayla Kilcrease, Precious Thompson and Kinsie Hebler all scored runs.
- Neal and Thompson also had stolen bases.
- Katie Dean pitched a complete five innings, giving up just two hits with four strikeouts. It was her eighth win of the year.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 3)
Higgs had a walk in the first inning and stole both second and third base. A single from Jameyson brought her home to put the Lions on top. Dean had two strikeouts in the bottom of the first and the Lions led 1-0.
 
A&M-Commerce had a two-out rally in the second inning. Neal drew a walk and advanced to second on a single from Nunez. Neal then stole third while Nunez stole second. Higgs singled to drive in a run and the Lions led 2-0. Dean forced three groundouts to Neal in the bottom of the inning and the Lions led 2-0 after two.
 
The Lion offense exploded in the third inning, scoring nine runs. Jameyson had a two-run home run. Neal had an RBI single. Higgs had a two-RBI single. Jameyson then came up again with the bases loaded and blasted a grand slam to center field. The Lions led 11-0 after three innings.
 
Neither team had a hit in the fourth inning as Dean continued to pitch well. She had another strikeout and Jameyson caught a runner stealing. The game was still 11-0 after four innings.
 
The Lions added a run in the fifth inning. Nunez singled to lead off. After two groundouts put her on third, a double from Jameyson drove in Nunez. The Lions led 12-0. Dean finished the game well, getting the final out without giving up a hit for the 12-0 shutout win.