GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.– The No. 13 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team defeated No. 17 Tarleton State University 14-2 in the deciding game of the South Central Region 1 Championship game. TSU defeated A&M-Commerce 10-9 in the first game of the day to force a final game.
 
The Lions improve to 42-10 and they advance to the South Central Super Regional Championship series. The TexAnns drop to 50-11 and their season is over.
 
The Lions will face No. 6 Angelo State in the Super Regional Championship series. The first game of the series will be played on Thursday at 7 p.m. The second game of the series will be played on Friday at 2 p.m. with the possibility of a deciding game three to follow on Friday.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 1)
- Mariah Jameyson hit a two-run homer in the third inning. She also walked in two runs.
- Kinsie Hebler had a two-RBI single and also walked in a run.
- Chealsea Slider went 3-of-4, knocking in two runs.
- Ciera Nunez, Baylea Higgs and Monica Cherry scored two runs apiece. Kayla Kilcrease and Jodie Hill also scored runs.
- Emily Otto, Katie Dean, Lacie Bullard and Hebler all saw action in the circle.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
TSU scored three runs in the first inning. After two walks started the action, a home run put three runs on the board. The Lions went three-up and three-down in the bottom of the first. TSU led 3-0 after one.
 
The Lion defense kept TSU off the board in the bottom of the inning before the Lions had a two-out rally. After two walks of their own, Slider came up to bat and hit a double to right center, scoring both base runners. The Lions trailed 3-2 after two complete.
 
TSU had a solo homer in the top of the third to bring their lead back up to two runs. The Lions responded right back. After Higgs drew a walk, she scored on a home run from Jameyson that cleared the fence by several feet. The score was tied at four after three innings.
 
TSU hit another solo homer in the fourth inning to again take the lead. The Lions responded by taking their first lead of the game. Slider hit a single. Cherry was hit by a pitch and Higgs drew a walk to load the bases. Jameyson also drew a walk to tie the game. Hebler then came to the plate and smoked a pitch to second. The baseman made a diving stop but Jameyson hustled to second and beat the throw. Nunez and Higgs both scored on the single and the Lions led 7-5 after four innings.
 
The TexAnns retook the lead in the top of the fifth. Three singles brought in the first run. Two more singles and a walk brought in three more runs, bringing the TSU lead to 9-7. The Lions had two base runners in the bottom of the inning but could not get them around. TSU led 9-7 after five innings.
 
Hebler made quick work of the TexAnns in the top of the sixth inning, not giving up a hit. The Lions then came up and filled the bases with no outs. However, a quick line drive was turned for a double play and the Lions could not bring in a run. TSU led 9-7 headed into the seventh.
 
TSU added another run in the seventh inning to bring their lead to three runs. The Lions came up looking to even up the game or walk off and got off to a good start. Hill and Cherry both drew walks and Slider had a single to load the bases with no outs. The next two batters grounded out, with the throw going home both times. Jameyson and Hebler both came up next but were walked to bring in two runs. The Lions had one final chance with the bases loaded to bring in the winning run but a fly out ended the game.
 
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 2)
- Baylea Higgs went 3-of-3 with four RBIs, while scoring two runs.
- Kinsie Hebler hit a three-run home run in the first inning.
- Bri Sims had two hits and three RBIs, including two-run homer in the fifth inning.
- Ciera Nunez and Mariah Jameyson also had RBIs.
- Nunez stole her 46th base of the season, tying a single-season program record.
- Allie Thompson, Kimber Neal, Jodie Hill and Monica Cherry all scored runs.
- Emily Otto pitched a complete game, striking out three in five innings against three hits. She earned her 19th win of the season.
- The Lions advance to the Super Regional Tournament for the first time in program history.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
The Lions scored four runs in the first to lead off the game. Nunez singled and stole second. She scored on a double from Higgs. After a Jameyson walk, Hebler came to the plate and crushed a pitch off of the scoreboard in center, bringing in three runs. The Lion defense also started well, holding TSU without a hit. The Lions led 4-0 after one complete.
 
The Lions were unable to add to their lead in the second inning. TSU then came up and the leadoff hitter hit a home run over the center field fence. The third batter of the inning also hit a solo homer and the Lions led 4-2 after two innings.
 
The Lions were again held scoreless in the third inning. The Lion defense stepped up in the bottom of the third. Hill made a diving stop and flipped the ball to Chealsea Slider on second. She fired it over to Sims on first for the double play and the Lion defense held TSU scoreless.
 
The Lions added to their lead in the fourth inning with a two-out rally. Nunez drew a walk and Higgs singled. Jameyson then singled to score Nunez. The wind played a part in the next play as Hebler hit a fly to right but a muffed catch allowed two runs to score. Hebler scored on a single from Sims and the Lions held an 8-2 lead. The TexAnns loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning but the Lion defense held them without a run. A&M-Commerce led 8-2 after four.
 
The Lions again threatened in the fifth inning. Slider singled to lead off and was pinch run for by Neal. Hill was hit by a pitch and Cherry reached base on a bunt hit. Nunez singled to center to score Neal. Higgs then cleared the bases on a double to center, scoring all three runners. Higgs scored on a two-run homer by Sims. The Lions led 14-2.
 
The Lions finished TSU off in the fifth inning. Otto forced two groundouts and the final out was made on a fly out.