DENTON– The No. 13 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team defeated Texas Woman's University 7-3 on Friday. The Lions took the lead in the top of the first and never let it go.
 
The win brings the Lions to 36-8 on the season and 21-7 in the Lone Star Conference. TWU falls to 25-18 and 13-12 in conference play.
 
The Lions and Pioneers will meet in a doubleheader on Saturday to close out the regular season. The first game will start at 1 p.m. at Pioneer Field in Denton.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Mariah Jameyson hit a solo home run in the third inning, breaking her own single season record on her 21st home run of the season. She also drew three walks.
- Kayla Kilcrease hit a solo home run in the third inning and also had a double. She had three RBIs.
- Baylea Higgs had two hits and an RBI. Monica Cherry also had two hits.
- Ciera Nunez and Bri Sims also had RBIs. Chloe Horn scored a run and Kimber Neal scored twice.
- Emily Otto pitched a complete game, pitching five strikeouts while holding hitters to a .174 average.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions got the scoring started early. Nunez drew a leadoff walk. Hebler then hit a single and Jameyson drew a walk to load the bases. A single from Sims brought in Nunez and Kilcrease drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Otto also started strong, retiring the side in order, including a strikeout. The Lions led 2-0 after one.
 
The Lions had two walks and a bunt hit in the second inning, loading the bases with one out. However, a hard-hit ball was gloved and the Pioneers turned a double play to get out of the inning. The Pioneers hit a home run in the bottom of the second inning. Otto then struck out two more batters. A&M-Commerce led 2-1 after two innings.
 
Jameyson led off the third inning with a jack over the left field fence, breaking her own single season record for home runs. Kilcrease also hit a solo home run. Neal drew a walk and scored on a single from Nunez. The Pioneers scored another run in the bottom of the inning. The Lions led 5-2 after three complete.
 
Jameyson was intentionally walked to lead off the fourth. She went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double from Kilcrease. The Pioneers were retired in order again and the Lions led 6-2 after four.
 
The Lions had two runners in scoring position in the fifth but could not get a run across. The Pioneers had two base runners reach and scored on a double steal run down. The Lions led 6-3 after five.
 
Neither team could do damage in the sixth inning. The Lion defense played tough behind Otto. Both Nunez and Kilcrease made diving catches to keep runners off the paths. The Lions held their 6-3 lead through six.
 
The Lions added to their lead in the seventh. Neal led off with a single. She scored on a double from Higgs and the Lions led 7-3. Otto got another strikeout in the bottom of the inning and two fly outs to end the game.