COMMERCE– The No. 11 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team rolled to its ninth consecutive victory with an 11-1 win over visiting UT Permian Basin at the John Cain Family Softball Complex on Saturday afternoon.
 
With the sweep of the Lone Star Conference series, the Lions are now 25-3 overall and 10-2 in LSC action. UT Permian Basin falls to 9-22 overall and 0-12 in league play.
 
The Lions will return to action on Friday, March 23, for the first of a three-game LSC series against Texas A&M-Kingsville. The game will feature a Superhero Costume Contest and will be Student Appreciation Night, as the first game back from Spring Break. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Lions hit two grand slams in the game, the first time in program history. Bri Sims hit one in the first inning and Kayla Kilcrease hit one in the second.
- Sims and Kilcrease both also scored two runs.
- Jodie Hill had two hits and three stolen bases.
- Ciera Nunez and Baylea Higgs both had a hit and scored a run with an RBI. Nunez also had a stolen base.
- Mariah Jameyson scored two runs. Kinsie Hebler had a hit and scored a run.
- Chloe Horn and Monica Cherry also scored runs.
- Katie Dean pitched a complete game and had seven strikeouts.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Falcons struck first in the top of the first. After Dean struck out the first batter of the game, the next two reached. A single to left scored a run and the Falcons led 1-0.
 
The Lions answered in the bottom of the inning. Nunez reached on a walk and stole second base. She scored on a double from Higgs. Hebler and Jameyson both walked to load the bases with no outs. Sims then came to the plate and crushed a ball to left center, clearing the bases on the grand slam. After a walk and an error put two more on, Hill bunted for a single to bring another run across. Nunez then doubled to score one more and the Lions led 7-1 after one inning.
 
Two runners reached for the Falcons in the second inning but Dean also struck out three in the inning to keep UTPB off of the board. The Lions came up and once again added to the lead. Hebler led off with a double and Jameyson and Sims both walked to load the bases. Kilcrease came to the plate next and smoked a pitch over the fence for the second grand slam of the day. The Lions led 11-1 after two innings.
 
Dean had another strikeout in the top of the third and also forced two groundouts. The Lions went three-up and three-down in the bottom of the inning. Dean had another strikeout in the fourth inning but the Lions did not add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Dean struck out one more in the fifth and the Lions got the 10-run win.