COMMERCE – The No. 14 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team split its games against No. 18 Oklahoma Christian on Sunday afternoon. The Lions defeated the Lady Eagles 3-1 in game one before falling 4-3 in game two.
 
The results bring the Lions to 16-7 on the season and 5-3 in the Lone Star Conference. OC goes to 21-5 and 6-2 in conference play.
 
The Lions return to action during Spring Break as they head to Austin to face St. Edward's in a doubleheader on Friday beginning at Noon. They will then face St. Mary's on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. in San Antonio.
 
HEAD COACH RICHIE BRUISTER AFTER THE GAME
- Click HERE for postgame comments from Head Coach Richie Bruister
 
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 1)
- Emily Otto (Richmond – Lamar) pitched 6.0 innings, earning her eighth win of the season. She had eight strikeouts in the contest.
- Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) had a solo home run, and also pitched the final inning, earning her fourth save of the season.
- Kinsie Hebler (Cypress – Cy-Fair) had a two-RBI single.
- Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.) and Ta'Lyn Moody (Mansfield – Legacy) both had hits.
- Chealsea Slider (Texarkana, Ark.) and Kimber Neal (Humble – Atascocita) both scored runs.
- There were a total of 23 strikeouts in the game, nine for the Lions and 14 for the Eagles.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
Both team's pitchers hit their spots, as the first six outs of the game were via the strikeout. Otto struck out three in the first and one more in the second inning to keep the Eagles off the board.
 
The Eagles took the lead in the third inning on a solo home run to left field, giving them. 1-0 lead. The Lions had a chance in the bottom half of the inning, with two runners reaching, but could not bring the run across.
 
The Lions took the lead in the fourth inning. With two outs, the Lions rallied, as Slider and Neal were hit by pitches. After a walk loaded the bases, Hebler singled into left field, bringing in both Slider and Neal to give the Lions a 2-1 lead.
 
LeBlanc added to the Lion lead in the fifth inning, as she blasted a pitch over the right field fence, giving the Lions a 3-1 lead. Otto continued to retire the Eagles in order keep the game at 3-1 entering the seventh inning.
 
LeBlanc entered the circle to finish the game, but was met with some adversity as the Eagles had a runner reach on an error, and two more via walk to load the bases with one out. However, LeBlanc dug deep, striking out the next batter and getting the final batter to pop up to end the game.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 2)
- Chealsea Slider (Texarkana, Ark.) had a solo home run, her third home run of the season.
- Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) had a two-RBI double, while also pitching the first 6.1 innings of the game. She had five strikeouts while giving up four earned runs. Emily Otto (Richmond – Lamar) pitched the final 0.2 innings.
- Jodie Hill (Heavener, Okla.) had a hit and scored a run. Uxua Modrego (Burlada, Spain) and Ta'Lyn Moody (Mansfield – Legacy) also had hits.
- Allie Thompson (Lindale) also scored a run.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
The Eagles struck first, as they scored in the top of the first inning. A single was followed by a triple to score one run. Moody made a diving catch in right to rob a hit, but another run came across on the sacrifice to give OC a 2-0 lead after one complete.
 
The Lions cut into the lead in the second inning, as Slider hit a solo home run to left field to cut the lead in half. Moody and Hill reached in the third inning, and both scored on a hard-hit double from LeBlanc to give the Lions a 3-2 lead after three innings.
 
After neither team could manufacture a run in the fourth inning, the Eagles pounced in the fifth inning. A single was followed by a home run, giving OC a 4-3 lead.
 
The Lions had opportunities in both the fifth and sixth innings, as runners were in scoring position. However, they could not get the timely hit they needed to bring the tying run across.