COMMERCE – The No. 10 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team split their second day of action at the Best Western Plus A&M-Commerce Invitational on Saturday. The Lions fell 6-4 to No. 14 Southern Arkansas earlier in the day before getting a come-from-behind 6-5 win over Arkansas Monticello later in the evening.
 
The decisions bring the Lions to 6-2 on the season. The Lions return to action on Sunday as they host Rogers State in the final game of the tournament. The Cain Complex will host two games on Sunday, as UAM will face Rogers State at 9 a.m. The Lions' game against Rogers State will immediately follow.
 
HEAD COACH RICHIE BRUISTER AFTER THE GAMES
- On the loss to Southern Arkansas: "We just didn't hit and didn't do the little things that we do in practice every day. That's what our hitters need to settle in and do. They know how to hit, they know how to do it. You come to practice and watch them, and they are so much fun to watch. They are one of the best hitting teams in the country. They just have to get that to the field. And they will. I was proud to see that we made some adjustments in the second game and put up 12 hits."
- On coming from behind to win the second game against UAM: "You have to come together and play as a team. And we haven't done that as well as we should be. That's what we saw in that first game; we weren't playing as a team. It took coming together and playing as a team against Monticello to win.
- On the contributions of new starters in game two: "I'm proud of Ta'Lyn Moody and Vanessa Avina. They had the opportunity to start and they made the most of it. The bottom of our lineup scored five runs and they sparked us. When the bottom gets on, its sparks the top of the lineup with our big hitters. It gives us the opportunity to score. Madison Schaefer had a great night, going 3-for-4. That was team ball at its best."
- On Alyssa LeBlanc closing out the UAM game: "Otto would be the first to tell you that she didn't pitch the way she is capable of pitching. But she pitched well enough to keep us in the ball game and give our bats the opportunity to score some runs. And you have to love when a freshman comes in and just mows them down. It's exciting to have our one-two punch this year."
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 1)
- Kinsie Hebler (Cypress – Cy-Fair) had a pair of hits, and two RBIs and also scored a run.
- Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) also had an RBI hit.
- Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.), Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence), and Da'Jia Davis (Hillsboro – Midway) all scored runs.
- LeBlanc was the starting pitcher, striking out four. Alexis Velasquez (Amarillo – River Road) and Emily Otto (Richmond – Lamar) also had a strikeout each, while Laurel Glatch (Frisco – Liberty) pitched two innings with a pair of strikeouts, and was credited with the loss.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
The Muleriders struck first with a solo home run in the top of the second inning. The Lions fought back with a run of their own in the bottom of the second. The Lions had a pair of runners reach, and the tying run was brought across as Davis stole third and scored on an errant throw. The game was tied after two innings.
 
The Muleriders scored two more in the top of the third, before the Lions fought back to tie the game once again in the bottom half. Schaefer singled and scored on a double from Hebler. Hebler then scored on a single from LeBlanc. The game was tied after three innings.
 
The Muleriders scored again in the fourth inning, and the Lions fought back to score in the fifth inning, as Hill drew a walk and then stole second base. She scored on a single from Hebler, tying the game at four.
 
SAU scored a run in the top of the sixth and another in the bottom of the seventh. The Lions had chances to even the score but could not get the hits they needed to extend the game.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 2)
- The Lions scored six unanswered runs over the course of the fourth and fifth innings to get the win.
- Emily Otto (Richmond – Lamar) picked up her fourth win of the season, pitching six innings with six strikeouts. Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) earned her first save of her collegiate career, striking out two batters in the seventh and retiring all three batters she faced.
- Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. She brought the tying run across in the game.
- Ta'Lyn Moody (Mansdield – Legacy) had two hits and scored twice, and also had a stolen base.
- Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.), Kinsie Hebler (Cypress – Cy-Fair) and Chealsea Slider (Texarkana, Ark.) also each had an RBI. Slider also scored twice.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
The Blossoms struck right away, as a two-run home run in the top of the first gave them a lead. The Lions had a pair of runners reach in the bottom of the first, but could not bring the runs across.
 
UAM brought two more runs across in the top of the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. The Lions then found their groove in the bottom of the fourth. Slider had a single and Moody also singled. Slider scored on a passed ball, and Moody scored on a single from Schaefer. The Lions trailed 4-2 after four complete.
 
After Otto struck out a pair in the top of the fifth, the Lion offense again was hot. After a runner reached on an error, Slider brought the run home on a s9ngle. Moody then reached on a bunt hit as the Lions loaded the bases. Schaefer brought one run home on a single, and Hill brought the game-winning run across on a sacrifice fly. Another run came across on a passed ball, and the Lions led 6-4.
 
UAM brought an unearned run across in the sixth inning and looked to try and tie the game in the seventh inning. The Lions turned to LeBlanc, who was up for the challenge. She forced a first hitter into a groundout, then struckout the final two batters she faced to earn the save and give the Lions the win.