COMMERCE– The No. 11 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team defeated UT Permian Basin twice on Friday night. The Lions won the first game 13-7 and the second game 10-0 in five innings.
 
The wins bring the Lions to 24-3 on the season and 9-2 in the Lone Star Conference. The Falcons fall to 9-21 and 0-11 in conference play.
 
The teams will meet in the final game of the series at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be played at John Cain Family Softball Field. Admission to the contest will be $1.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 1)
- Bri Sims had two hits, including a home run in the fifth inning. She had two RBIs on the day.
- Mariah Jameyson had two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. Kayla Kilcrease also had two RBIs.
- Hebler had two hits, two runs scored and hit a run in.
- Monica Cherry pinch hit and had a two-run homer in the fifth. It was her first of the year.
- Kimber Neal had one hit with an RBI. Jodie Hill had a hit and scored two runs.
- Ciera Nunez and Baylea Higgs both had a hit and scored a run.
- Allie Thompson and Vanessa Muro also scored runs.
- Nunez and Hill both had two stolen bases. Higgs, Kilcrease and Precious Thompson all had one stolen base.
- Emily Otto got her eighth win of the year. She had five strikeouts. Selena Rima got the save.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
The Falcons got the hitting started early in the game. After a strikeout for Otto, the next two batters both hit solo home runs to give UTPB a 2-0 lead. Otto struck out the next batter and then got the final out via fly out to end the top of the inning. The Lion bats were unable to get going in the bottom of the inning and UTPB led 2-0 after one.
 
After Otto settled into the game in the second, the Lion bats got going in the second inning. Kilcrease walked and stole second base. Hill then singled to put Kilcrease into scoring position. Hill then stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Neal walked to load the bases with two outs. Nunez then reached on a fielding error, bringing two runs across. The game was tied at two after two complete innings.
 
The Falcons retook the lead in the third inning. A leadoff single was followed by a double to put two runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly brought in a run and the Falcons took a 3-2 lead.
 
The Lions answered back with four runs in the bottom of the third. Hebler and Jameyson both walked to open up the inning. Sims then came up and doubled into left to score a run. Kilcrease grounded out but brought another run across to give the Lions the lead. A passed ball brought in another run and a single from Neal brought in the fourth run of the inning. The Lions led 6-3 after three full innings.
 
Otto got another strikeout in the fourth inning and the Lion offense added two more runs in the bottom half. Higgs singled in the infield to lead off and proceeded to steal second. She scored on a double down the right field line from Jameyson. Hebler scored on a sacrifice fly from Kilcrease to give A&M-Commerce an 8-3 lead after four.
 
The Falcons answered back with three runs in the top of the fifth. A double down the left field line scored the first run. A single up the middle scored two more and the Falcons cut the Lion lead to 8-6. Rima came in to finish the inning and did, getting the final out of the inning.
 
The Lions scored five in the bottom of the fifth. Nunez scored on a double from Hebler. Jameyson then scored Hebler on a single to center. Cherry pinch hit and homered to right center to bring in two more. Sims followed Cherry and hit a solo home run to bring the Lion lead to 13-6 after five.
 
The Falcons scored another run in the seventh inning but the Lion defense clamped down to end the game.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 2)
- Baylea Higgs hit her first career home run in the top of the first. She had two hits with two runs scored and three RBIs as well as a stolen base.
- Monica Cherry had a two RBI triple in the fourth inning. She also scored a run and had a stolen base.
- Jodie Hill had three hits, one RBI and two runs scored. She aslo stole a base.
- Kimber Neal had two hits, one run scored, one RBI and a stolen base.
- Bri Sims had a solo home run, her second of the series. Kinsie Hebler had two hits, scored a run and had an RBI.
- Mariah Jameyson had two hits and scored a run. Ciera Nunez had two hits, a run scored and a stolen base.
- Kayla Kilcrease also had an RBI.
- Katie Dean pitched a complete five innings for her ninth win of the year. She had three strikeouts and gave up just three hits.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
After a quick top of the inning, which included a strikeout for Dean, the Lions wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the inning. Nunez reached with a bunt single and stole second. She scored on a home run from Higgs. Sims also homered and the Lions led 3-0 after one inning.
 
Dean had another strikeout in the top of the second and the Lions again had a perfect inning on defense. The bats continued to smolder for the Lions in the bottom half of the inning. Hill led off with a home run. Neal then scored on a single from Higgs. Hebler then hit a single to score Higgs. The Lions led 6-0 after two complete innings.
 
The Falcons had two hits in the third inning but the Lion defense stayed firm to get the next two outs without a run coming across. The Lions also had two hits in the bottom of the inning but could not get runs across. The score was 6-0 after three.
 
After a quick top of the fourth, the Lions added four more runs in the bottom of the inning. Hebler walked and was followed by a double from Jameyson. A triple from Cherry scored both runners. Cherry then scored on a sacrifice fly from Kilcrease.  Hill singled and then stole second. She scored on a single from Neal and the Lions led 10-0 going into the fifth.
 
The Falcons went three-up and three down in the fifth and the Lions won in a shortened game.