COMMERCE– The No. 8 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team split its two games on Saturday against Cameron to conclude the regular season on Senior Day. The Lions lost the first game 5-1 before winning the second game 11-3.
 
The results bring the Lions to 37-11 on the season and 23-7 in the Lone Star Conference to finish in second place in the LSC standings - the highest finish in program history. Cameron is now 33-14 on the year and 20-10 in LSC play.
 
The Lions are the second seed in the Lone Star Conference tournament and will earn a bye to the semifinal round. Texas A&M-Kingsville won the regular season championship and will host the tournament. The Lions will next play on Friday at 4 p.m, facing the winner of West Texas A&M and Angelo State, which will be played at 11 a.m. on Friday. All games will be played at Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field in Kingsville.
 
HEAD COACH RICHIE BRUISTER AFTER THE SERIES
On the emotions of the day: "It's one of those mixed emotion days. We didn't win a conference championship but we had a chance to play for a conference championship. That's always exciting to have an opportunity to do that. We put ourselves in position to do that. The mixed emotion is we lost that game but then came out in game two and responded. The way we fought and run ruled them in game two was outstanding and we were able to finish second in the conference and get that first round bye. It's a great day when you are able to do that. We knew it was going to be hard to sweep Cameron. I'm proud of the team to come out and win the series."
On finishing second in the LSC and earning bye in tournament: "It's definitely exciting. The reason we have our conference set up this way is to reward those top teams for all the hard work they have put in. To get that bye, it helps with the regional rankings and it protects the top teams. We are looking forward to going to Kingsville next weekend."
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 1)
- Chealsea Slider (Texarkana – Texas HS) had an RBI double in the second. Ciera Nunez (Amarillo – Randall) scored the Lions' lone run.
- Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.), Kinsie Hebler (Cypress – Cy Fair), Vanessa Muro (Oak Hills, Calif.), Bri Sims (Rowlett), and Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) all had hits.
- Katie Dean (Whitesboro) pitched 6.1 innings, striking out three. Alexis Velasquez (Amarillo – River Road) pitched the final 0.2 innings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
The Aggies hit a home run on the third pitch of the game, taking a 1-0 lead early. The Lions battled back to tie the game in the second inning when Sims reached on a single and scored on a double from Slider. After two complete innings, the score was tied at one.
 
Both teams had base runners reach in the third inning but neither could get a run across. The Lions had a runner reach third in the fourth inning but that is as far as she would go. After four complete innings, the game remained tied at one.
 
The Aggies regained the lead in the fifth inning after a walk and a double brought a run across. They added another run in the sixth inning on a single and an error. The Lions threatened in the bottom of the sixth with a single and two walks, to load the bases loaded with one out. However, A&M-Commerce could not get the hit it needed to bring runs across.
 
CU hit a two-run homer in the seventh to extend its lead and the Lions were unable to extend the game.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 2)
- Kinsie Hebler (Cypress – Cy Fair) hit a pair of home runs, including a walkoff grand slam. She had six RBIs, three hits, and scored twice.
- Vanessa Muro (Oak Hills, Calif.) hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic) also had a solo homer.
- Kayla Kilcrease (Kerens) and Bri Sims (Rowlett) also had RBIs.
- Emily Otto (Richmond – Lamar Consolidated) pitched a complete game and earned her 25th win of the season. She struck out five batters.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
The Lions struck first in the second game, scoring four runs in the first inning. Hebler and Muro both had two-run homers to give the Lions a 4-0 lead.
 
Otto had two early strikeouts and the Lions added to their lead in the second inning. Hill reached on a walk and scored on a Kilcrease single. Sims led off the third inning with a home run and the Lions led 6-0 after three complete.
 
The Aggies scored three runs in the fourth inning to cut the Lion lead in half. Boley then hit a solo homer in the bottom half of the inning to give the Lions a 7-3 lead after four complete.
 
After a pair of strikeouts from Otto in the fifth, the Lions ended the game. Nunez singled and after two walks loaded the bases, Hebler blasted a pitch off the scoreboard to end the contest.