COMMERCE– The No. 8 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team defeated Cameron 10-0 on Friday night. The Lions had 14 hits in the game while surrendering just two base hits.
 
The win brings the Lions to 36-10 on the season and 22-6 in the Lone Star Conference. The Aggies fall to 32-13 and 19-9 in conference play.
 
A&M-Commerce and Cameron will meet again on Saturday in a doubleheader in the final two games of the regular season. First pitch will be at 1 p.m. at the John Cain Family Softball Field. Tickets to the doubleheader are available by visiting WeAreLionsTix.com or by purchase at the gates of the Cain Complex.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Every single batter in the starting lineup had at least one hit.
- Nine different Lions crossed the plate.
- Emily Otto (Richmond – Lamar Consolidated) picked up her 24th win of the season and her 20th complete game. She gave up just two hits, struck out three hitters and retired the final 12 batters she faced.
- Vanessa Muro (Oak Hills, Calif.) had a hit and brought in three runs. Kinsie Hebler (Cypress – Cy-Fair) had a pair of doubles and brought in two runs.
- Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) had a hit and two RBIs. Bri Sims (Rowlett) and Chealsea Slider (Texarkana – Texas HS) both had two hits and an RBI.
- Kayla Kilcrease (Kerens) and Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.) each had a pair of hits. Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic) and Kimber Neal (Humble - Atascocita) also had a hit.
 
HEAD COACH RICHIE BRUISTER AFTER THE GAME
- On the complete team performance: "That is probably the best team effort I have ever seen. Everybody in the starting lineup had a hit. We played great defense, with it all starting in the circle with Otto and then the defense behind her. You saw one of the best team efforts you could ever see. To have our team come out like that, with everything that was going on, you have to love what you see."
- On Otto's two-hit outing: "You have those nerves coming into a big game like this. She settled in after two early hits and pitched an absolute gem. She relied on the defense to play behind her. We got the three-run lead early and that allowed her to go out relaxed and to do her thing. And she does it as well as anybody in the country."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Aggies had two early singles in the game but the Lion defense dispatched of the subsequent hitters to keep runs off the board. A&M-Commerce then struck in the bottom of the inning. Kilcrease, Hebler and Boley all reached base. Muro then singled to score two runs and Boley scored on a wild pitch. The Lions led 3-0 after one complete.
 
Otto did not give up a hit the rest of the way as the Lions blew the game open in the fourth inning, scoring seven runs on seven hits. Slider had a hit and bunt singles from Hill and Neal loaded the bases. Two runs scored on a single from Schaefer and two more scored on a double from Hebler. Muro brought across another run on a groundout, Sims had an RBI single and Slider had an RBI double to bring the game to 10-0.
 
Otto retired the final 12 batters she faced and the Lions won the game in shortened fashion.