GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.– The No. 13 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team defeated No. 17 Tarleton State 15-8 on Thursday afternoon in the opening round of the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament I. The Lions had offensive explosions in the first and sixth innings to get the win.
 
The win brings the Lions to 40-9 on the season. It is the first 40-win season in A&M-Commerce softball history. The TexAnns fall to 47-10 on the year.
 
The Lions move into the winner's bracket of the tournament and will play at Noon MDT (1 p.m. CDT) Friday against top-seeded Colorado Mesa. The game will be played at CMU Softball Field in Grand Junction, Colo.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Mariah Jameyson had two hits, including the game-winning double in the sixth inning to bring in three runs. She also scored twice.
- Ciera Nunez hit a three-run homerun in the first inning, her first career outside the park homer. She drove in three runs and scored three times with a stolen base.
- Bri Sims had two hits and drove in three runs.
- Chealsea Slider had two hits and two RBIs.
- Monica Cherry, Kayla Kilcrease, Kinsie Hebler and Vanessa Muro also all drove in a run.
- Baylea Higgs, Precious Thompson, Chloe Horn and Vanessa Avina all scored runs.
- Emily Otto, Lacie Bullard and Katie Dean all had a strikeout. Dean was credited with the win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Things could not have started better for the Lions on both sides of the ball. Otto struck out the first batter she saw and retired the side in order without a hit or a walk. In the bottom of the inning, the Lion offense exploded, scoring eight runs on six hits. Sims and Slider both had two-RBI singles and Cherry added an RBI double. The inning was finished off with a three-run homer from Nunez. The Lions led 8-0 after one complete.
 
The TexAnns started to get things going in the second. A leadoff single was followed by a double to put two runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly brought in a run and the Lions led 8-1 after two complete.
 
The TexAnns again got a rally going in the third inning. A single, walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with one out. Two singles brought in runs. A hit-by-pitch brought in another run. With two outs, the Lions brought in Bullard and she fought through the at bat to get a swinging strike. The Lions led 8-4.
 
Neither team recorded a hit in the fourth inning as the pitchers were on the mark for both teams. The TexAnns hit a solo homer in the fifth inning to again cut into the Lion lead. The Lions faced extra runners with two outs but Bullard forced a fly out to center to get the final out. The Lions had a single in the bottom of the inning but could not bring in a run. A&M-Commerce led 8-5 after five complete innings.
 
TSU tied the game in the sixth inning. Two doubles brought in a run and a triple brought in two more to bring the game back to even at eight apiece.
 
The Lions answered back in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out rally. With the bases loaded, Jameyson came to the plate and hit a base-clearing double to score three runs. Hebler then hit a double to score Jameyson. She scored on an RBI single from Sims. Sims scored on a double from Kilcrease. Kilcrease scored on a single by Muro. The Lions held a 15-8 lead after six innings.
 
The Lions made quick work of the TexAnns in the seventh inning to seal the win.