PORTALES, N.M.– The No. 9 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team defeated Eastern New Mexico 11-3 in five innings on Friday. The win finished the Lions' 3-0 sweep of the Greyhounds.
 
With the win, the Lions are now 31-3 for the season and 16-2 in the Lone Star Conference. The Lions have now won 15 games in a row. The Greyhounds fall to 15-22 and 8-13 in conference play.
 
The Lions return to action on Friday for a nationally-ranked home matchup against No. 14 West Texas A&M. The teams will play a single game on Friday at 7 p.m. and a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday. All games will be played at the John Cain Family Softball Complex in Commerce.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Jodie Hill hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning. Kinsie Hebler and Kimber Neal both hit solo home runs in the fifth inning.
- Ciera Nunez, Hebler, Hill, Kayla Kilcrease and Monica Cherry all had multiple hits.
- Hill had three RBIs. Baylea Higgs, Hebler, Mariah Jameyson, Bri Sims, Cherry and Neal all had an RBI.
- Hill and Nunez both had two steals. Higgs, Kilcrease and Cherry also had steals.
- Emily Otto got her 12th win of the year. She pitched 3.1 innings and had four strikeouts against four hits. Katie Dean started the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions got on the board in their first chance. Hebler hit a single and scored on a single from Jameyson. The Lion defense also was sharp to begin the game. After a fielder's choice got the first out, Higgs made a diving catch in center field to get an out. She quickly got to her feet and threw to second, getting a force out on the runner who left too early. The Lions led 1-0 after one.
 
The Lions added to their lead in the second inning. Hill and Kilcrease both singled and stole a base, putting two runners in scoring position with no outs. Cherry singled to bring a run across. Another run came across on an error. Cherry scored on a ground out by Higgs and the Lions led 4-0.
 
The Greyhounds brought two runs across in the bottom of the inning. A walk and a single put two runners on. Two more singles brought two runs across and the Lions held a 4-2 lead after two complete innings.
 
Hill singled in the third inning and stole second. She advanced to third on a Cherry single and scored on a passed ball to give the Lions a 5-2 lead. Otto came in to pitch and had a strikeout to keep the Lions up three after three complete.
 
A&M-Commerce added four runs in the fourth inning. Higgs singled and stole second base. Hebler hit an infield single and Jameyson walked to load the bases. Sims hit a groundout but brought Higgs across. Hill then hit a home run into left center field to score three more and the Lions led 9-2. Otto had two more strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth to keep the Lions up seven.
 
The Lions added two more in the fifth inning. Neal led off with a home run to left field. Hebler also homered in the inning and the Lions led 11-2. ENMU hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth but another strikeout for Otto got an out and Higgs robbed a home run on the final at-bat to get the Lions the five-inning win.