CONROE – The No. 9 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team ran its season-opening run to five straight wins with victories over Central Oklahoma and Colorado School of Mines at the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational.
 
A&M-Commerce (5-0) defeated previously unbeaten Central Oklahoma, 10-0 in five innings, then beat Mines, 9-1.
 
The Lions wrap up the ATU event on Monday at 9 a.m. against No. 25 Augustana.
 
HEAD COACH RICHIE BRUISTER AFTER THE DAY'S ACTION
On the win against UCO: "We came out and scored four runs in the first. It was great, against a team like them that came in undefeated, to get on top of them early. Then to come out in the second and get three more, that's a great start. Then Otto was just outstanding in the circle. You can't ask for anything more, than for her to come in and shutout a team like that. We had great offense and great defense. It was an all-around team win there."
On the win against Colorado Mines: "The freshmen were great. For Alexis (Velasquez) to come in like that in a tight ball game, in her first outing as a collegiate player, she had a great presence on the mound. To come in and hold them to no runs in 5.2 innings, she was outstanding. We had a chance to break it open early but we just couldn't. But we kept battling and kept putting pressure on the defense. And then (Madison) Schaefer - another freshman - to step up and hit a big home run in the Mines games and also go out into right field, where she hadn't been but one or two days in practice, and look like a natural out there... For her to double off the kid to end the ball game was just wonderful."
On the play of Kimber Neal: "Kimber had some big hits. She's had an awesome weekend and had four RBIs this game, it was a great performance from her both offensively and defensively. For her to be doing what she's doing against the teams we are playing against, is just tremendous. I'm certainly proud of her. She works hard and has done outstanding."
On the team's first three days of play: "Being 5-0 against the teams we have played against is outstanding. It is a long weekend. There's mental strain and physical strain that wears on you. For our kids to rise to the top and to be performing the way we are performing is awesome.  We will finish off with another big-time team in Augustana to finish off the tournament. Tomorrow comes down to mental toughness. That's who's going to win the ball game."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Central Oklahoma)
- Emily Otto (Richmond – Lamar Consolidated) earned her third win of the weekend, allowing only three hits and a walk against four strikeouts in the complete game shutout.
- Bri Sims (Rowlett) smashed her third homer of the season and drove in three runs with the long ball and a sacrifice fly.
- Kinsie Hebler (Cypress) and Chealsea Slider (Texarkana) each drove in runs.
- Kimber Neal (Humble - Atascocita) had a double and scored three runs.
- Ciera Nunez (Canyon – Randall) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Central Oklahoma)
The Lions jumped on the board with four runs in the bottom of the first. Nunez led off with a hard-hit single off the pitcher, then scored on a botched double play attempt. A wild pitch plated Neal, then Sims blasted her third homer of the season down the left field line to give the Lions the early 4-0 lead.
 
Noriega singled to lead off the second and Hill's single put runners on the corners. Pinch runner Ta'Lyn Moody scored on a double steal attempt. A series of walks and hit batters loaded the bases and Hebler's bases loaded walk plated another run. Sims was narrowly short of another homer and settled for a sacrifice fly to put the Lion lead at 7-0 after two innings.
 
After Otto rolled through the third and fourth innings, the Lion bats did their best to put an early end to the contest. Neal led off the fourth with a double down the left field line and scored when the UCO pitcher airmailed the throw on Kilcrease's sacrifice bunt attempt. A dropped fly ball with two outs added to the run total, and Slider put the cap on the game with an RBI single.
 
Otto continued her dominance in the top of the fifth with a strikeout and two infield outs to bring the Lions their fourth straight win to start the season.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Mines)
- Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) smashed a homerun for her first collegiate hit.
- Neal went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, two walks, and two runs scored.
- Nunez led off the game with a triple and scored a run.
- Kynslee Noriega (Kyle – Lehman) and Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.) each scored two runs.
- Alexis Velasquez (Amarillo – River Road) earned the win in her first collegiate appearance, allowing no runs on four hits and two walks in 5.2 innings of relief.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Mines)
Nunez started the game with excitement, tripling down the right field line. Neal scored and the leadoff duo executed a delayed double steal to plate the first run. After a hit batter and a wild pitch, Neal scored on a passed ball to give the Lions an early 2-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Dean encountered some control issues, plunking three consecutive Orediggers to load the bases with two outs. A walk brought home a run and cut the lead to 2-1.
 
Mines' pitching also had issues with control, with a hit batter and a walk putting two Lions on board. After a groundout moved the runners into scoring position, Neal continued her hot streak with a two-run single to left-center moving the Lions ahead 4-1.
 
After a pair of walks allowed the Orediggers to threaten, Velasquez came into the circle with one out and retired the next two batters with weakly hit balls to squelch the CSM opportunity.
 
Nunez' speed forced an Oredigger error in the fourth, allowing Noriega to score after a leadoff single, pushing the Lion lead to 5-1. Schaefer pushed the lead to 6-1, leading off the top of the fifth by blasting a homer to left field for her first collegiate hit.
 
The Lions put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh. After a run scored on a bases loaded wild pitch, Neal poked a two-run single into right-center for her seventh hit of the weekend. The clutch hit pushed the Lion lead to 9-1 going into the bottom of the seventh.
 
After a single got an Oredigger on base, Schaefer make a cannon throw to first to double the runner off and end the game with the Lions on top again.