EDMOND, Okla. – The No. 21 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team picked up a pair of wins on Friday afternoon. The Lions defeated Fort Hays State 8-1 in the early game before knocking Nebraska Kearney 6-3 later in the day. The Lion offense had a total of 18 hits over the course of the two games, with eight different players getting at least one hit, and seven different players scored runs.
 
The wins bring the Lions to 8-3 on the season. A&M-Commerce returns to action on Saturday with another double header. They will face No. 22 Rogers State at Noon on the campus of Oklahoma Christian. They will then face Central Oklahoma in a true road matchup in Edmond at 4 p.m.
 
HEAD COACH RICHIE BRUISTER AFTER THE GAMES
- On Hebler achieving the home run record: "Hard work pays off, it's that simple. Kinsie is one of the hardest workers we've ever had in our program. She certainly deserves and has earned that record with all the time she spends in the cage really working on her swing. She's developed one of the best swings in the country. I'm extremely proud of her."
- On the offense: "They've been working really hard, and that hard work showed up. They know what our offensive goals are and they've been working really hard. We were excited to play today and get some swings at the ball. The hitters really made them count today. We were getting hits from all across the lineup. That was wonderful to see the work we've been putting in translate to the field."
- On the defense: "LeBlanc was dominant in that first game with those 11 strikeouts. That was exciting to see that. And she had the bats going with her, which is always a great combination. Otto didn't have her best game but talking with her, she made some adjustments and she let the best defense in the country go to work for her. She let the ball get put in play and the defense was great. We had two double plays and our players had our pitcher's back. And then LeBlanc came back in and shut the door there in the final inning."
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 1)
- Kinsie Hebler (Cypress – Cy-Fair) became the school's all-time home run leader, as she hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning. She also scored twice.
- Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) had a pair of two-run home runs in the game, totaling four RBIs and two runs scored.
- Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) pitched a complete game, recording a career-high and program-record tying 11 strikeouts. She also had a two RBI double to put the Lions ahead early. She had two doubles in the game.
- Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.) scored four runs and had four stolen bases with a pair of singles. Her four runs scored in the game tied a single-game program record.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
The Lions got things started early, as Hill bunt singled in her first at bat. After she stole second and Hebler drew a walk, both scored on a hard-hit double from LeBlanc. After aiding her cause, LeBlanc retired the first six batters she faced, recording three strikeouts.
 
The Lions added to their lead in the third inning, as Hill again reached and stole a base. This time it was Schaefer who had the hit, and this one left the yard, driving in two more runs. LeBlanc pitched another perfect inning, striking out a pair as the Lions led 4-0 after three complete.
 
FHSU loaded the bases in the fourth inning with two outs, and a single brought a run across. The Lion defense limited the damage as only one run was scored, with the Lions leading 4-1.
 
Hill reached once again in the fifth inning, and after stealing, scored on a bomb from Hebler that landed in left center field. The home run gave Hebler the all-time record, and put the Lions ahead 6-1. Hill scored for the fourth time in the seventh inning as she was brought home on Schaefer's second home run of the day.
 
LeBlanc continued to fool hitters as she struck out two more in the bottom of the seventh to get the complete game win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 2)
- Uxua Modrego (Burlada, Spain) had a double and a triple, and brought in a run.
- Julie Kennedy (Fort Worth – Boswell) pinch hit and had a two-RBI single.
- Emily Otto (Richmond – Lamar) pitched six innings, striking out six batters to earn her fifth win of the season.
- Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) pitched the final inning, striking out the final batter to earn her second save of the year. She also had an RBI.
- Ta'Lyn Moody (Mansfield - Legacy) and Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) also had a pair of hits each, while Chealsea Slider (Texarkana, Ark.) and Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.) also had hits.
- Vanessa Avina (Haltom City), Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic), and Da'Jia Davis (Hillsboro - Midway) all scored runs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
UNK scored first, as they had a single and two walks with one out in the top of the first inning. A sacrifice fly scored a run before Otto got the next out via strikeout. Modrego tripled in the bottom of the first but could not be brought around to score.
 
The Lions tied the game in the bottom of the second. Slider and Moody both singled. A double steal plus an errant throw brought Avina around to score, while Moody scored on a double from Modrego. The Lions led 2-1 after two complete.
 
The Lions added to their lead late in the third inning. The Lions loaded the bases with no one out, before the UNK defense got two outs in a row. Kennedy pinch hit and smacked a shot right up the middle that squirted through, scoring two more runs. The Lions led 4-1 after three.
 
The Lions scored another run in the fifth on a single and an error, and added a run in the sixth inning on a LeBlanc single that scored Schaefer. LeBlanc entered to pitch in the seventh inning and earned the save, holding off a late UNK run.