COMMERCE – Head coach Richie Bruister picked up his 500^th win as a collegiate head coach, as the No. 9 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team completed a sweep of MSU Texas with a pair of run-rule shutouts on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Lions won 12-0 in the opener, then picked up a 9-0 win in the nightcap. A&M-Commerce moves to 12-1 overall and 3-0 in LSC action with the wins, while the Mustangs fall to 7-5 overall and 0-3 in the league. The Lions did not give up a run to open their conference season, winning three shutouts over the weekend.
 
The Lions are next scheduled to host Texas A&M International for a 2 p.m. doubleheader Wednesday. Tickets are available at WeAreLionsTix.com, by calling (903) 468-8756, by visiting the Lion Sales & Service Box Office in the Field House or by purchase at the gate of the John Cain Family Softball Field.
 
A&M-COMMERCE HEAD COACH RICHIE BRUISTER AFTER THE SERIES
- On the team taking advantage of MSU's errors: "We stayed focus the whole time, were patient at the plate and had some opportunities with our speed to get people on base. Then we had some good timely hitting with those grand slams."
- On the no-hitter from Otto: "She is just outstanding. It was a tough environment. Midwestern State didn't want to get swept. For her to come in and close it out the way she did, no-hitter style, was just fantastic. It was a tough ball game. We were just up 1-0 through five. She kept her composure and showed her maturity again today."
- On getting to win No. 500 of his coaching career: "You couldn't script any better than it happened today. I want to thank the good Lord for the opportunities He's given me. I want to thank my family too. I have a wonderful wife and dad. Everybody has supported me all these years. It is tough being a family member of a coach with all the time we have to spend working to be successful. I couldn't be more thankful for my family. I want to thank my staff members that have been great through all my years. I've been fortunate for them to stand by me, now with Coach May and Coach McNutt. I want to thank all the support staff and the administration at the universities I have coached for. And most of all, to the players. They have overcome bad coaching. I have outrecruited my coaching ability. I am very proud of what they do every single day. My hats are off to the players and my coaching staffs for all they have done throughout the years."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 1)
- The Lions scored 11 unearned runs to roll over the Mustangs in the opening game of the day. The Lions took advantage of two costly fielding errors by MSU and made them pay the price.
- Ciera Nunez (Amarillo – Randall) went 3-for-3 with a run scored.
- Bri Sims (Rowlett) went 2-for-3 with her second career grand slam.
- Kinsie Hebler (Cypress) and Chealsea Slider (Texarkana – Texas High) each drove in two runs.
- Katie Dean (Whitesboro) moved to 4-0 on the season with the five-inning shutout, allowing five hits and four walks, striking out two and stranding eight Mustangs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
Kilcrease reached on a dropped fly ball to open the bottom of the first, followed by walks by Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.) and Vanessa Muro (Oak Hills, Calif.). Hebler dropped a two-run single down the right field line, and Slider smashed a two-run double through the left side, giving A&M-Commerce the early 4-0 lead.
 
The Lions scored all eight runs in the third inning with two outs. After Kilcrease brought home a run with a bases loaded hit by pitch, three runs came home when Neal's fly ball to right was dropped. A walk and hit batter loaded the bases again, and Sims' monster homer to left brought home four on her second career grand slam.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 2)
- Emily Otto (Richmond – Lamar Consolidated) pitched her second career no-hitter, moving to 7-0 on the season with seven strikeouts and two walks in 5.0 innings.
- Muro ended the game in the fifth inning with a walk-off grand slam. It was the first grand slam of her A&M-Commerce career.
- Nunez and Kilcrease each had a pair of hits in the game, while Hill picked up an RBI.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
Kilcrease opened the bottom of the first with a double, went to third on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Lions were held off the board for the next three innings, while Otto didn't allow any Mustangs to reach scoring position.
 
Hebler opened the bottom of the fifth with a single, followed by a Slider walk. Ta'Lyn Moody (Mansfield – Legacy) laid down a perfect bunt single, and an errant MSU throw allowed her and both preceding runners to score.
 
Singles by Nunez and Kilcrease and a hit by pitch loaded the bases. Hill walked to push the fifth run of the game across, then Muro launched the ball over the left field fence to set off the celebrations with the run-rule victory.