KINGSVILLE– The No. 2 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team lost 3-2 to A&M-Kingsville on a walkoff hit on Friday night. The Lions fell behind early, rallied to tie but ultimately could not come out on top.
 
The loss brings the Lions to 17-4 on the season and 6-1 in the Lone Star Conference. The Javelinas improve to 17-2 and 5-2 in conference play.
 
The Lions and Javelinas will return to the diamond tomorrow for a doubleheader. The first game will begin at 1 p.m. at Hubert Field in Kingsville.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Lions scored both of their runs in the 6th inning. Kayla Kilcrease (Kerens) had an RBI single to bring in the first run. Vanessa Muro (Oak Hills, Calif.) brought in the other run.
- Kimber Neal (Humble - Atascocita) had the Lions' first hit.
- Ciera Nunez (Amarillo - Randall) scored the first run. Ta'Lyn Moody (Mansfield - Legacy) also scored a run.
- Emily Otto (Richmond - Lamar Consolidated) pitched a complete game.
- The Lions struck out 15 times in the game, 11 of which were swinging strikeouts.
 
HEAD COACH RICHIE BRUISTER AFTER THE GAME
- On the team's fight to get back in the game in the 6th inning: "I was proud of our team. They had our number to start with. We made some adjustments. I told our kids we were in a heavy weight fight. We got hit in the mouth and got knocked down, but were we going to get back up or not? We got back up, and I was proud of the way our team responded."
- On the team's resolve for tomorrow's doubleheader: "We just got beat tonight. It was one of those things. They were better than us today. We will be back tomorrow and be better."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Neither team could get a rally going in the first inning. Hill turned a double play on a line drive in the first inning to get the Lions out of the inning.
 
The Lions had a runner in scoring position after Hill drew a walk and also stole second. However, they could not get a hit to drive her in. The Javelinas then put together a rally. After a walk and a single, a bunt put the runners in scoring position and a single scored both runners. The Lions trailed 2-0 after two complete.
 
The Lion defense stopped rallies in the third and fourth innings without allowing runs to come across. The Lions still were looking for their first hit of the contest.
 
Those hits would come in the sixth inning. Neal laid down a bunt and the ball stayed fair as she raced down to first. Nunez reached on an error and Moody reached on a fielder's choice. Nunez scored on a single from Kilcrease. Moody then scored on a single from Muro. Otto drew three flyouts in the bottom of the sixth and the team were tied after six complete.
 
After The Lions struck out three times in the top of the seventh, the Javelinas were able to bring a run across. After a leadoff single, a bunt advanced the runner and then a hard-hit ball through the right side plated the game's final run.