COMMERCE– The No. 14 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team defeated Western New Mexico 15-3 on Friday afternoon. The Lions scored in every inning, picking up the series sweep.
 
The Lions move to 25-9 on the season and 13-5 in the Lone Star Conference. The Mustangs fall to 4-21 and 3-12 in conference play.
 
The Lions return to action on Tuesday with a home doubleheader against Rogers State. The first game of the doubleheader will begin at 4 p.m. at the John Cain Family Softball Field. 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.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.) had six RBIs, including a three-run homer. She had three RBI hits on the day.
- Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic) had a three-run homer and also a sacrifice fly, bring in four runs.
- Kinsie Hebler (Cypress – Cy Fair) and Chealsea Slider (Texarkana – Texas HS) also hit homers.
- Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) also had an RBI and scored a run.
- Bri Sims (Rowlett) scored twice, along with Slider and Boley. Ta'Lyn Moody (Mansfield - Legacy), Vanessa Avina (Haltom City), Vanessa Muro (Oak Hills, Calif.), Ciera Nunez (Amarillo – Randall) and Kimber Neal (Humble – Atascocita) also each scored a run.
- Emily Otto (Richmond – Lamar Consolidated) picked up the win in relief, striking out four and giving up just one hit in 3.1 innings. Hebler started the game, striking out three.
 
HEAD COACH RICHIE BRUISTER AFTER THE GAME
- On the team's offense: "I'm proud of our effort. We did a good job. We scored in every inning. We came out looking to see good pitches and when we did, we put good swings on them. When you do that, good things happen."
- On the team's defense: "Emily is steady. You know what you are going to get when she goes out there. It gives confidence to our team when she's out there. They know she will shut them down and give us an opportunity to get ahead. And the defense played well behind her."
- On the upcoming series against Rogers State: "We had great crowds for the games this weekend and we are going to need that again. Rogers is one of the top teams in the Heartland. As far as regional rankings and all that, it is a big series for us. All the support we can get for that to help us win that doubleheader would be great."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Hebler struck out two in the top of the first, the Lions jumped out to an early lead in the bottom half as Hebler homered on the second pitch of the afternoon. Schaefer then tripled to bring Sims around. The Lions led 2-0 after one.
 
WNMU hit a three-run homer in the second to briefly take the lead before the Lions responded in the bottom the inning to take the lead for good. Slider doubled and a walk from Hebler left two runners on for Hill. She went on to smash a pitch over the fence to give the Lions a 5-3 lead after two complete.
 
Otto came into the game in relief in the second inning and WNMU had just one hit the rest of the way as it was all Lions. In the third, the Lions scored five more. Two sacrifice flies brought in runs. Hebler also brought in a run and Hill brought in two on a double. The Lions led 10-3 after three.
 
The Lions added three more on a home run from Boley in the fourth. Slider also hit a homer in the inning and Hill had yet another RBI hit. Otto shut WNMU down in the fifth and the Lions ended the game in five.