CONROE– The No. 9 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team kicked off the 2019 season with two wins in the team's opening tournament. The Lions defeated St. Mary's 2-1 in the morning before knocking off tournament host No. 20 Arkansas Tech 8-4 in the afternoon. Both of the wins were come-from-behind wins.

The Lions are now 2-0 on the season. The Lions have won the first two games in every season of their five-year existence.
 
The Lions return to action tomorrow as they face Washburn. The game will be played at 10:30 a.m. at the Scrap Yard Sports Complex in Conroe.
 
HEAD COACH RICHIE BRUISTER AFTER TODAY'S ACTION
- On the team winning the opening game pitcher's duel: "That about sums it up. It was quick. If you were at home, it was a boring game to watch on the live stats. But if you were at the field, it was one of those stressful, old-school games. I got a text from Coach Piper saying that that was old school. It was a great defensive battle. Otto coming out to pitch like that was awesome."
- On the offense stringing together hits in the 7th inning: "For our offense to keep their heads in it and have two seniors come up big for us was really good. We were down 1-0 in the top of the seventh, and Kilcrease led off and Bri came up with a big two-run home run for us. It was great defense, great pitching and timely hitting."
- On the play of Bri Sims on opening day: "Bri had a great day today. She had several clutch hits for us. It was great to see her bat come alive early. We certainly needed that. We got some people on and she came up big with a home run and a two-out RBI in that second game. It was an excellent day for her."
- On the team overcoming an early deficit in game two: "It was good to see our team keep our composure getting down early. It wasn't a big deal and we put some runs on the board. And Katie Dean pitched awesome. She gave up some runs but some of those were unearned runs. She had a great outing."
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (St. Mary's)
- Bri Sims (Rowlett) hit the game-winning home run in the seventh inning, driving in two runs.
- Kayla Kilcrease (Kerens) had a single and scored on the homer by Sims.
- Emily Otto (Richmond – Lamar Consolidated) pitched a complete game, striking out seven while giving up just two hits. It was the 14th complete game of her career.
- Kynslee Noriega (Kyle - Lehman) and Kimber Neal (Atascocita) also had one hit apiece.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (St. Mary's)
Both teams took their time to get their offense going, as both teams had three-and-outs in the first two innings. Otto struck out two batters in the second inning for the Lions.
 
Noriega got the offense going for the Lions, recording the first hit of the season. A bunt single from Neal put two runners on with one out. However the Lions were unable to get the runners around and the game stayed scoreless. Otto had two more strikeouts in the bottom of the third.
 
Neither team could get things going in the next three innings either as the defense continued to play well on both squads. That ended in the bottom of the sixth as St. Mary's leadoff hitter smacked a home run to left field to get St. Mary's on the board first. Otto got another strikeout to end the inning.
 
The Lions answered back in the top of the seventh inning. Kilcrease led off with a single and she was driven home on a home run from Sims to left field. The Lions took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Otto completed the game, striking out another batter and not allowing a base runner in the inning to seal the Lion win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Arkansas Tech)
- Just as she did in the first game, Bri Sims (Rowlett) hit a home run to left field. She also had the game-winning RBI on a two-RBI single in the fifth inning. She scored a run and drove in three RBis.
- Kimber Neal (Atascocita) had two hits and two RBIs.
- Kayla Kilcrease (Kerens) had a hit and scored two runs. Ciera Nunez (Amarillo - Randall) also had a double and scored two runs.
- Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.), Jordan Sherrell (Schertz - Samuel Clemens) and Lindsay Garner (McKinney - McKinney North) all scored runs.
- Katie Dean (Whitesboro) pitched 6.2 innings, striking out two batters and throwing 63 strikes in 93 pitches to get the win. Emily Otto (Richmond - Lamar Consolidated) got the final out on a strikeout.
- Nunez, Hill, Sherrell and Neal all had steals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Arkansas Tech)
Neither team had a baserunner in the first inning as the defenses scooped up every grounder hit their way. The Lions then got on the board in the second inning. Kilcrease and Slider both singled to put runners on. After Sherrell came in for Slider to pinch run, Kilcrease scored on a single from Neal. Sherrell scored on a double steal and the Lions took a 2-0 lead.
 
ATU countered with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. A single and a throwing error put two runners on with no outs. A double scored one run and a single scored two more as ATU took a 3-2 lead after two complete innings.
 
After two singles and a walk loaded the bases for ATU in the bottom of the third, Dean struck out the next batter to get the Lions out of the jam. The Lions tied the game in the top of the fourth on a homer from Sims. After four complete innings, the game was tied at three.

The Lions regained the lead in the fifth inning. Nunez led off with a double and Kinsie Hebler drew a walk. After Garner pinch ran for Hebler, both she and Nunez scored on a single from Sims. Kilcrease drew a walk and scored on a single from Neal. Dean retired the side in the bottom of the inning and the Lions took a 6-3 lead into the sixth inning.

The Lions pushed two more runs across in the sixth inning. Nunez and Hill both drew walks to lead off. Nunez and Hill pulled off a double steal attempt and an errant throw allowed Nunez to score. Hill also scored on two wild pitches. The Lions took an 8-3 lead into the seventh inning.

ATU had two singles in the seventh to drive in a run and Otto was called upon to come in for the last out. She pitched a four-pitch strikeout and the Lions left with the win.