GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.– The No. 13 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team defeated No. 3 Colorado Mesa 14-7 on Friday. The Lions built a big lead early and traded blows with CMU through the rest of the game to get the win.
 
With the win, the Lions improve to 41-9 on the year and advance to the Regional Championship game for the first time in program history. CMU falls 48-4 on the year.
 
The Lions advance to the final round of the Regional Tournament and await their opponent. The first game will be at 12 p.m. MDT (1 p.m. CDT). If the Lions lose the first game, a second game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. MDT (3:30 p.m.). The games will be played at CMU Softball Field in Grand Junction, Colo.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Kinsie Hebler hit two homers, including a grand slam for five RBIs. She scored three times.
- Baylea Higgs went 2-of-3, including a three-run triple. She also scored once.
- Kayla Kilcrease, Mariah Jameyson and Monica Cherry also drove in runs.
- Ciera Nunez scored twice. Precious Thompson, Allie Thompson, Bri Sims and Vanessa Avina also scored runs.
- Emily Otto started the game and earned her 18th win of the season. Lacie Bullard finished the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions came up to bat first and went three-up and three-down. The Mavericks then came up and had two leadoff singles. A double brought in both runs and CMU led 2-0 after one complete.
 
The Lions answered back. Hebler came up and mashed a pitch over the left field fence to get the Lions on the board. The Lion defense also made some plays in the bottom of the inning, holding CMU without a run. A&M-Commerce trailed 2-1 after two.
 
The Lions went to work in the third inning. Nunez and Higgs both hit singles and Jameyson drew a walk to load the bases. Hebler then smoked a pitch again, this time over the right center fence for her third grand slam of her career. The Lions led 5-2 going into the bottom of the inning. The defense again made some great plays, retiring the Mavericks in order. The Lions led 5-2 after three complete.
 
The Lions broke the game open in the fourth, scoring seven runs. Cherry had an RBI single. Higgs then came up to the plate and hit a triple to clear the bases and bring in three more runs. Jameyson and Kilcrease also had RBI singles and Hebler scored on a wild pitch from third. The Lions held a 12-2 lead. CMU hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. The Lions led 12-3 after four.
 
After the Lions went scoreless in the fifth, the Mavericks put up three runs in the bottom of the inning, cutting the Lion lead to 12-6. The Lions answered back with two runs in the top of the sixth. With two runners on, a fielding error by the Mavericks was followed by a throwing error and both runners came across. The Lions led 14-6.
 
CMU scored one run in the bottom of the sixth to force a seventh inning.