CLAREMORE, Okla. – The No. 16 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team picked up a pair of wins over No. 15 Rogers State on Tuesday afternoon. The Lions won the first game 7-2 and the second game 7-1.
 
The wins bring the Lions to 13-6 on the season, while the Hillcats fall to 17-6 on the year.
 
The Lions return home to Lone Star Conference action with two doubleheaders over the weekend. The Lions will host Cameron in a doubleheader on Friday at 4 p.m. before hosting Oklahoma Christian on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
HEAD COACH RICHIE BRUISTER AFTER THE GAMES
- On finding the bats in both games: "We played to win today, instead of playing not to lose. The team changed its mindset today and put themselves out there. They didn't worry about making mistakes or striking out. They just played their game. It was awesome to see that. And the players saw that too. They were excited about it. The bats were awesome today."
- On the pitching performances: "I was proud of both our pitchers today. I didn't realize Otto's performance was a program record, but any time you have 21 outs in a game, and 12 of them were strikeouts, you are obviously doing your job well. I'm very proud of her keeping her composure in that inning where they had base runners on and keeping them to one run. She gave the offense a chance and the offense came up big for her. It was great to see that team effort. And then LeBlanc was also great in game two."
- On seeing the ball leave the yard multiple times: "It was long overdue. We knew they could do it, because they do it every day in practice. And they changed their mindset today. They flipped the right switch today and it was great to see that. Uxua got her first one today, and LeBlanc had another one, and Boley got a couple. Hitting is contagious, and that's what we had today."
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 1)
- Emily Otto (Richmond – Lamar) set a career-high and set the school single-game record with 12 strikeouts in the game. She pitched her fourth complete game of the season and picked up her sixth win.
- Chealsea Slider (Texarkana, Ark.) went 3-of-4, including her first home run of the season.
- Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic) went 2-of-4, including a three-run home run.
- Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) had two hits, including a solo home run. Uxua Modrego (Burlada, Spain) also had a solo homer.
- Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.) had two hits, including an RBI double.
- Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) and Ta'Lyn Moody (Mansfield – Legacy) both also had one hit and scored. Allie Thompson (Lindale) also scored a run.
- The Lions set a season-high with four home runs in the game, and had 12 hits in the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
Both pitchers were in top form to begin, as each had a pair of strikeouts in the first inning. The Lions then had a pair of runners reach in the top of the second, with Slider hitting a single. However, the Lion bats were unable to get her around. Otto had two more strikeouts in the bottom of the second to keep the game scoreless.
 
Hill singled and stole second base to lead off the third inning, and got to third base with one out before RSU's defense retired two in a row to keep the Lions off the board. The Hillcats then hit a solo home run to take the lead. Facing the bases loaded, Otto continued to fight and drew a pop up to get out of the jam.
 
The Lion bats then ignited in the fourth inning. LeBlanc smoked a pitch over the wall in left center to tie the game. Slider followed suit, blasting a shot over the center field fence to give the Lions the lead. A&M-Commerce did not stop there, as Moody hit an infield single and stole second. She was brought in to score on a hard-hit double from Hill, giving the Lions a 3-1 lead. Otto continued her onslaught, striking out two more in the bottom half.
 
The Lion offense continued its hot-hitting ways in the fifth, as Modrego hit her first collegiate home run to give the Lions a larger lead. Schaefer and LeBlanc both singled to put runners on for Boley, who blasted her first homer of the season to give the Lions a 7-1 lead. Otto again showed her stuff, striking out two more and retiring the side in the bottom half.
 
Otto struck out three more in the sixth inning to set the single-game record, and took the Lions to the win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 2)
- Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic) hit a solo home run and also had an RBI single in the game.
- Chealsea Slider (Texarkana, Ark.) had a single and a pair of RBIs. Vanessa Avina (Haltom City) and Madison Schaefer (Frisco - Independence) also each had an RBI.
- Kinsie Hebler (Cypress – Cy-Fair) and Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.) also had hits.
- Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) pitched a complete game, getting her seventh win of the year. She had six strikeouts and gave up only four hits.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
As with the first game, defense ruled the first two innings of play, as neither team was able to score a run. That changed in the third, as the Lions again found their hitting prowess. Hill reached on a single and Hebler drew a walk to put two runners on. Schaefer brought one of the runs in, and two more runs crossed the plate on a single from Slider. Avina brought a fourth run across on a single and the Lions led 4-0 after three complete.
 
The Lions scored two more in the fourth, as Slider brought in another run, while Boley also had an RBI hit. The Lion defense again took the Hillcats down in order as they led 6-0 after four complete.
 
The Lion defense again took over in the next two innings, as LeBlanc was hitting her spots and the defense cleaned up what was put in play. Boley then brought the lead to seven runs in the top of the seventh, as she hit her second home run of the day. The Lions gave up a late run but left with the series sweep.