KINGSVILLE– The No. 2 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team lost both games against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday afternoon. The Lions lost the first game 10-7 and the second game 3-1.
 
The losses bring the Lions to 17-6 on the season and 6-3 in the Lone Star Conference. The Javelinas improve to 19-2 and 7-2 in conference play.
 
The Lions return home for their next LSC series. They will host Eastern New Mexico in a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 4 p.m. The teams will then play a single game on Saturday at 1 p.m. Tickets to the series 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 gates of the John Cain Family Softball Field.
 
 
HEAD COACH RICHIE BRUISTER AFTER THE GAMES
 "We just didn't put together a complete performance in any game this weekend. When our pitching was going, our hitters couldn't get a hit. Then we got the hitters going and we didn't get good pitching. It's a team effort when we win and it's a team effort when we lose. Everybody had a part in it this weekend. We will regroup back in Commerce and get ready to face Eastern New Mexico this coming weekend."
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 1)
- Vanessa Muro (Oak Hills, Calif.) had one hit and three RBIs.
- Kayla Kilcrease (Kerens) had two hits, scored two runs and had two RBIs.
- Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.) had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI. Kinsie Hebler (Cypress – Cy-Fair) also had an RBI.
- Ciera Nunez (Amarillo – Randall) had a hit and scored twice. Kimber Neal (Humble – Atascocita) also scored twice.
- Hebler pitched 3.2 innings. Katie Dean (Whitesboro) pitched 2.0 innings and Alexis Velasquez (Amarillo – River Road) pitched 0.1 innings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
The Javelinas brought a pair of runs across in the first inning and added another in the second to take a 3-0 lead.
 
The Lions battled back to score three of their own in the top of the third. Four consecutive walks brought in a run. Muro then hit a single to bring two more runs across. The game was tied at 3.
 
The Javelinas then scored seven in the bottom half of the inning, including two home runs to push their lead to 10-3.
 
The Lions fought back in the fifth inning. After a single from Kilcrease and a double from Hill, Muro brought in another run on a ground out. Hebler then had a sacrifice fly to bring in Hill. The Lions added two more in the sixth inning. Neal reached and Nunez singled. Both scored on a double from Kilcrease. The Lions trailed 10-7 after six.
 
That was as close as they could come as the Lions could not complete the comeback in the final inning.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 2)
- Kinsie Hebler hit a solo home run to center in the second inning. She also had a double in the game.
- Jodie Hill and Vanessa Muro also had hits in the game. Hill also stole a base.
- Emily Otto (Richmond – Lamar Consolidated) pitched a complete game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
The Javelinas struck first, scoring a run in the bottom of the first off of two singles and a sacrifice fly. The Lions answered back in the second inning. Hebler took a pitch deep to center and it cleared the fence. After two comlete, the game was tied at one.
 
The Lion defense held the Javelinas scoreless in the second and third innings and then the offense had a chance. Muro singled and then Hebler doubled to put two runners in scoring position. The Lions could not bring the runs in however.
 
A&M-Kingsville then struck again in the fourth inning with a two run homer. The Lions had base runners on in the fifth and sixth innings but could not get them around.